The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT has sharply criticized social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after a wave of bomb threats targeting airlines circulated on the platform in recent days. Over 120 flights operated by Indian carriers have received threats, causing panic among passengers and triggering enhanced security protocols.
In a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Joint Secretary Sanket S Bhondve expressed the government’s frustration, accusing X of “abetting crime” by allowing these alarming hoaxes to spread. Representatives from X and Meta were questioned about their efforts to curb the circulation of such threats.
Aviation Safety in Focus
The surge in bomb threats has impacted numerous flights, with 30 flights from IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India receiving threats just yesterday. The airlines responded by following standard operating procedures, alerting authorities, and implementing security measures.
Speaking on the situation, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu stressed that the government is taking the issue seriously and that hoax threat perpetrators will face stringent consequences. He confirmed that the government is considering placing those responsible on a no-fly list and intends to introduce legal amendments to ensure stricter punishment.
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Legal Amendments on the Horizon
To bolster security and address such threats more effectively, the government plans to amend the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act. Current aviation security laws primarily address in-flight offences, but the proposed amendments aim to cover threats that occur when aircraft are on the ground, making such offences cognizable.
“We are trying to make amendments, and the legal team has worked on it… We need consultations with other ministries also… we are definitively pushing forward to have changes in the Act,” Naidu said.
Investigation Underway
Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the pattern of the threats. While Minister Naidu acknowledged concerns about a potential conspiracy, he emphasized that conclusions would be drawn only after the investigation is complete.
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“Without investigation, we cannot put out any pattern… let us wait for the completion of the investigation,” he added.
The barrage of bomb threats has alarmed both passengers and security agencies, leading to the diversion of several flights, including international ones. Despite the hoax nature of the threats, authorities are taking every alert seriously, intensifying security checks and measures at airports.
Enhanced Security at Airports
Minister Naidu confirmed that airport security has been significantly increased, with additional CCTV cameras and heightened monitoring at checkpoints. “We are continuously talking to law enforcement agencies. We are pushing to speed up the process. While we are trying to efficiently tackle the situation, we are not compromising on the safety and security,” he said.
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Naidu reiterated the importance of treating even hoax threats with the utmost seriousness. “We are keeping ourselves dynamic and not rigid… assessing and learning from what is happening. Everything is taken on a case-by-case basis,” he noted, adding that the government is in regular communication with law enforcement to expedite the investigation process.
