As if the airline industry isn’t complex enough under normal circumstances, Indian airlines are dealing with quite the challenge at the moment, as we’ve seen dozens of airplane bomb threats over the past week. This has caused delays, diversions, and more.
In this post:
India sees surge in airplane bomb threats
So far this week, more than 70 flights in India have received bomb threats, though they’ve all turned out to be false.
For example, on Monday at least three flights received bomb threats, on Tuesday at least 10 flights, and on Wednesday at least seven flights. That number only increased later in the week. Perhaps the highest profile case involved an Air India 777 flying from Delhi to Chicago, which diverted to Iqaluit, and ended up stranding passengers, requiring a rescue flight from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
All of these bomb threats have been made anonymously, from unverified and newly created social media accounts.
On Friday and Saturday, an anonymous X/Twitter account with the handle @adamlanza111 (which has now been suspended) posted bomb threats for dozens of flights. Not only did this account claim that there were bombs onboard flights in India, but the account made similar claims for many foreign carriers.
In each case, the threats were identical, with five flights listed for each airline. For example, here’s one of the threats that was made against IndiGo, India’s largest airline:
Hi. There are bombs placed onboard of 5 your planes.
-Flight 6E11
-Flight 6E17
-Flight 6E58
-Flight 6E108
-Flight 6E184
No one will make it out alive.
Hurry up and evacuate the plane.
So, umm, will no one make it out alive, or should they hurry up and evacuate? Those aren’t exactly clear instructions. It’s worth noting that in some cases, these threats were made for flights that had already been completed.
Indian authorities are taking threats seriously
India has long had a policy of taking all airplane bomb threats seriously, regardless of how farfetched they may seem. That continues to apply now, though one wonders how much longer that will go on.
Authorities managed to apprehend one minor who was responsible for the bomb threats on Monday, though haven’t yet found those responsible for subsequent threats (though I have to imagine they’re likely to be minors as well).
As you’d expect, it can be challenging to track people down with anonymous online accounts who are using VPNs. However, government agencies are working together to try and stop this going forward, including increasing penalties for those found to be behind these threats. Apparently the government is considering putting these people on the no-fly list, which hardly seems like the worst punishment for such behavior.
While that’s all fine, maybe it’s time that these threats just aren’t taking seriously, when it’s determined that there’s no legitimacy to them? I mean, this latest round of threats included claims about bombs on American, Delta, and JetBlue flights. You know what those airlines (and US authorities) didn’t do, though? They didn’t divert planes or delay flights, because it’s so obvious that this is a hoax.
I’m curious if Indian officials will eventually decide that it’s time to scale back how seriously these threats are taken. If not, I have to imagine that the number of threats will just increase, as mischievous teenagers find this to be an amusing hobby. The more seriously the bomb threats are taken, the more likely teenagers are to do this.
Don’t get me wrong, if there’s a reason to believe that a threat is legitimate, it should of course be taken seriously. But some random social media account claiming that each airline has five flights with bombs is just ridiculous.
Bottom line
Indian airlines have faced dozens of bomb threats this week from anonymous online accounts. This seems to be a case of “monkey see, monkey do,” as one minor made some threats earlier in the week, and now other people have set up online accounts to do the same.
With the government taking this so seriously, I imagine it increases the thrill that some people get from this behavior.
What do you make of India’s airplane bomb hoax mess?
Darn, I hope this isn't some larger nefarious plan... Make so many bomb threat hoaxes until the authorities no longer take them seriously, then make a legit one, and watch the gov't go up in flames when the plane blows up because of an ignored threat
Eventually it will get to be a National pass time like rape where all involved are protected by some type of cast and they all get away with it ,
What a joke !
Yeah just like the corruption and Mafia has become in Italy, using adults and kids alike for shooting practice in US, colonialism, slavery in Spain, money laundering in UK. I can go on and on.
There is a history behind taking these threats seriously. Please read about AI 182 and AI 301. Especially the negligence shown by Canadian police in the case of the former.
Secondly, how does one decide which threat is serious and which one isn't? What happens if it is a wrong decision? Are lives worth less than the inconvenience and money, something Boeing has already demonstrated?
We all know India is currently being led by a fascist regime that is against the very idea of India, but this is not the way to express your frustrations, people.
It's relieving that these threats were from some mischievous teenagers, but reading about the divisive politics of the ruling party, it wouldn't be surprising if a frustrated citizen poses a credible threat.
I think their government needs to drop the facade, get...
We all know India is currently being led by a fascist regime that is against the very idea of India, but this is not the way to express your frustrations, people.
It's relieving that these threats were from some mischievous teenagers, but reading about the divisive politics of the ruling party, it wouldn't be surprising if a frustrated citizen poses a credible threat.
I think their government needs to drop the facade, get back to democratic ways of running the country (i.e., not favor "their people" and top 1% at the expense of the lowest common denominator), and focus on unity and lives of common people before shit hits the fan.
Yeah and the front runner for US presidency is a very democratic guy who believes in peaceful transfer of power, people’s right to criticize and protest. Why don’t you worry about your country and let Indians worry about theirs. First go to India, live there and then comment on how undemocratic it has become. Study on the history of Indian politics to learn about divisiveness.
Why are you sooo anti-Bharat?!?
Are you Pakistani?
"I mean, this latest round of threats included claims about bombs on American, Delta, and JetBlue flights. You know what those airlines (and US authorities) didn’t do, though? They didn’t divert planes or delay flights, because it’s so obvious that this is a hoax."
Oh my God, we're all gonna die! At least if you listen to the guys who replied to my last comment about this game. In which I suggested the right way...
"I mean, this latest round of threats included claims about bombs on American, Delta, and JetBlue flights. You know what those airlines (and US authorities) didn’t do, though? They didn’t divert planes or delay flights, because it’s so obvious that this is a hoax."
Oh my God, we're all gonna die! At least if you listen to the guys who replied to my last comment about this game. In which I suggested the right way to react is to do nothing.
Now, this of course begs the question: after sending out like a hundred false alarms everyone is ready to ignore the 101th alarm. Is that when these guys will actually strike? But I don't think so. If someone wants to blow up a plane, they are not going to announce it beforehand, because, well, why would they?
Maybe if the Indian government stopped sending assassination teams all over the world, they might have a little more peace. Of course, then Israel might end up with more scrutiny for doing the same thing.
Oh, yeah that's the reason for all these bomb hoaxes. LOL
Your less than cutting-edge geopolitical analysis tells me you've never ventured beyond the facile.
Meh, Canada is a zoo that needs some cleaning
Tell me I am dumb without telling me I am dumb. Just google Khalistan movement in Punjab and AI182. You’ll know why Indian government is trying to assassin “innocent” people in other countries.
To all you folks who have decided that my take is "facile" or that assassinating people in other countries (citizens of those countries) is just dandy, can you explain why the Indian government, which has extradition treaties with both the US and Canada (both of which has had their assassination teams), seems unable to provide sufficient evidence to allow even one person to be extradited to India to face an actual criminal trial?
Why do you assume Indian government wants these people extradited? Basically when “west” declares an outfit or individual a terrorist, the world must bow its head down and agree. But, when “east” does that, they need to provide proof.
Also, why do you assume, India wants them arrested and extradited?
The assumption is that India believes these people to be criminals. By the rule of law, they should ask to have them extradited and provide the necessary evidence to warrant their extradition. It is pretty apparent that India does not want them extradited to face trial, they simply want them dead because they oppose the Indian government. That's not really the way that the world is supposed to work, whether in the east or the...
The assumption is that India believes these people to be criminals. By the rule of law, they should ask to have them extradited and provide the necessary evidence to warrant their extradition. It is pretty apparent that India does not want them extradited to face trial, they simply want them dead because they oppose the Indian government. That's not really the way that the world is supposed to work, whether in the east or the west. I also oppose the extrajudicial killing of middle eastern people by the US and Israel, if that helps make clear my opposition to any assassinations outside of the rule of law. It is not right, no matter who is doing it. They should be brought to trial in the accusing state or the world court. Of course, neither the US nor Israel will be a part of the world court because they know very well that they are constantly trampling international law
Stay classy, Paul Weiss.
India has a lot of problems as a country. There’s a reason their 1 billion people achieved nothing but curry jokes and a BBC News article about how they import custom order small condoms. Meanwhile the 1 billion people in China are reinventing the world. How telling that Paul, Weiss maintains a Beijing office but not a Bangalore office.
How dumb and racist towards Indians are you?
verifiable facts are racist now?
Actually, he’s spot on! Was any part of his statement a lie or fake? Nope
You in the other hand made it racist, which is f’ing dumb and annoying, considering India is the most racist country in the world (this is based on facts too).
I'm Indian... India is not a racist country by any means, and who told you that the Indians haven't accomplished anything. Who is the CEO of Google? Who is the CEO of Microsoft? how is the CEO of Adobe? Also, take a look at TATA industries, they own Jaguar Land Rover, Tetley, Vistara (and now Air India), and Taj hotels. These aren't even close to all of TATA's companies. And don't even get me started on Reliance, Airtel, and many other Indian companies.
Considering most of the successful tech companies are run by people from India and a significant percentage of their technical staff, you strike me as intellectually lazy.
Quite amusing when the bottom of the barrel Georgia something gun toting red necks try to run a smear campaign against the origin of the smartest, most educated and verifiably richest community in US.
@Shaun - when India put a vehicle on the moon they were busy attending KKK rallies. Heck one of them almost has it as his nickname above.
What an abhorrent and disgusting individual you are for spewing such perniciousness. Absolutely shameless and representing the worst of humanity. I really hope you don't have any children, for their sake.
Yeah those bunch of small d snake charmers reached moon for less than what it costs US to make a scifi about space. Not just anywhere on moon, but on the darker side. Somehow these idiots also achieved mars orbit becoming 2nd country to do so in first attempt and for less than what US spends on a movie about Mars. The same idiots developed nuclear weapons on their own, produce their own fighter jets,...
Yeah those bunch of small d snake charmers reached moon for less than what it costs US to make a scifi about space. Not just anywhere on moon, but on the darker side. Somehow these idiots also achieved mars orbit becoming 2nd country to do so in first attempt and for less than what US spends on a movie about Mars. The same idiots developed nuclear weapons on their own, produce their own fighter jets, developed ICBMs. Educates people that run the World Bank, and bunch of fortune 500 companies, and so on.
Some of these ankle biters will end up working for Indian managers in the near future (and potentially be fired while at it).
canada good actually
This is work of Canadian harbored terrorists.
Blame Canada, and it's disgusting tolerance of terrorists under Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh.
South Park fan?
Mak sounds like someone on the Indian government's payroll.
It's getting increasingly tough to be any religion but Hindu in India, since the Modi government seems intent on making the place into a Hindu theocracy that not only demonises Sikhs, Muslims, et al, but is quite willing to carry-out extrajudicial assassinations on foreign soul. The Canadians are right to be furious with New Delhi - it's not as if Canada is Iran, lacking both the motivation and the court system to extradite accused terrorists...
It's getting increasingly tough to be any religion but Hindu in India, since the Modi government seems intent on making the place into a Hindu theocracy that not only demonises Sikhs, Muslims, et al, but is quite willing to carry-out extrajudicial assassinations on foreign soul. The Canadians are right to be furious with New Delhi - it's not as if Canada is Iran, lacking both the motivation and the court system to extradite accused terrorists for trial. That's assuming the so-called "terrorists" would get a fair trial in India, of course, a country where even anodyne criticism of Modi can land one in legal strife. It's likely there'd be show-trials so obviously staged that even Joe Stalin would be shocked, and then it's straight to a life-sentence in prison, silencing another of Modi's ideological enemies.