THE pattern of domestic airlines receiving bomb threats continued for a fourth day with multiple flights being targeted on Thursday, as authorities suspended or blocked about 10 social media handles for posting threats, according to official sources. Among the flights that received threats on Thursday four were of Air India Express, two of Vistara and one Indigo. Air India said, “a number of” their flights also received hoax bomb threat, but they did not specify the number. “A number of Air India flights received a security threat on social media today. These have been duly reported to the regulatory bodies and all laid down procedures were strictly followed as per guidance of the regulatory bodies. All flights have made a safe landing. Air India is committed to and accords top priority to the safety and security of its passengers and crew,” an Air India official said. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said, the Ministry is looking at amending regulations to ensure strict action. Asked whether there is a conspiracy behind the bomb threats, he said, “whatever we know now are that of individuals and minors. And pranksters.” One of the Air India flights that received a threat was its Mumbai-London flight.

 

The Royal Air Force scrambled a typhoon fighter jet to escort the flight and it landed safely at London’s Heathrow airport. “We can confirm that RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched this afternoon, to investigate a civilian aircraft,” a Royal Air Force spokesperson said. Following an uneventful interception the aircraft was released to continue to its original destination under the direction of civilian air traffic control, the spokesperson said. Further, the spokesperson said the incident is now being handled under the control of civilian authorities. Meanwhile, official sources said about 10 social media handles that issued hoax bomb threats to multiple airliners this week have been suspended or blocked by cyber security agencies till now.

 

The sources told PTI that the handles were “analysed” by a joint team of cyber, aviation security and Intelligence agencies following which orders were issued to suspend them. The agencies have also found some common lines and words used in these fake threats like “bombs”, “blood will spread everywhere”, “explosive devices”, “this is not a joke” and “you will all die” and “bomb rakhwa dia hai” (Hindi for bomb has been placed) among others.