Vistara’s Delhi-London flight diverted to Frankfurt after receiving bomb threat

“Vistara flight UK17 operating from Delhi to London on October 18, 2024 received a security threat on social media. In line with the protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed and as a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Frankfurt,” the Vistara spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Akasa Air said its flight QP 1366 scheduled to fly from Bengaluru to Mumbai on Friday received a security alert shortly before departure.

“Hence as per safety and security procedures, all passengers had to be deplaned as the local authorities followed necessary procedures. We request your understanding as our team on ground did everything possible to reduce inconvenience,” the Akasa Air said in a post on X.

Nearly 40 flights by Indian carriers received bomb threats

In the past few days, nearly 40 flights operated by the Indian carriers have received bomb threats which later turned out to be hoaxes.

The civil aviation ministry plans to put in place strict norms to prevent incidents of hoax bomb threats to airlines, including placing the perpetrators in the no-fly list.

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.

10 social media handles that issued hoax bomb threats suspended

Unnamed official sources told news agency PTI tthat 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 as they continued to issue “mindless” threats.

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.