Cybersecurity agencies have blocked or suspended more than seven social media handles this week after they were linked to a series of hoax bomb threats against multiple Indian airlines.
Official sources confirmed that a joint team comprising cyber, aviation security, and intelligence agencies analysed the accounts before issuing suspension orders.
The majority of the accounts, most of them on X (formerly Twitter), were responsible for issuing fake threats targeting both domestic and international routes operated by Indian carriers.
Beginning Monday, the threats, which ranged from bomb scares to terror attacks, disrupted more than two dozen flights, inconveniencing passengers, crew, and airport authorities across the country.
Some messages contained specific phrases such as “bomb rakhwa dia hai” (a bomb has been placed), “blood will spread everywhere,” and “you will all die.”
The threats also referred to explosive devices, and while none were substantiated, they caused considerable concern among security agencies.
According to sources, cyber patrol teams have intensified monitoring of social media platforms and the dark web for any potential connections to these hoaxes.
The authorities are also investigating the email addresses and geographical locations linked to the accounts that issued the threats, with a possibility that some may have originated overseas.
In addition to suspending the accounts, the agencies have lodged multiple FIRs with the police. The police are now coordinating with cybersecurity experts to track the originators of these fake bomb threats.
While none of the hoax messages have resulted in actual security incidents, the disruptions have led to the scrambling of fighter jets in countries like Singapore and Canada as a precautionary measure.
This has caused not only distress among passengers and airline crews but also significant logistical and financial impacts on the airlines, according to officials.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu addressed the issue on Wednesday, confirming that law enforcement agencies were actively pursuing all leads.
“We are closely monitoring the situation, and every case of bomb threats is being taken seriously,” he said.
In a recent breakthrough, Mumbai Police detained a 17-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh in connection with hoax threats posted on X, which targeted three Mumbai-originating flights on 14 October. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain if the teenager acted alone or if a wider conspiracy is at play.
Security agencies continue to step up their efforts to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future. Enhanced cyber patrolling and collaboration between intelligence agencies are key to managing the growing challenge posed by online threats in aviation security.
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