Nearly 30 flights faced bomb threats, mostly on international routes, from Monday night to Tuesday morning. Reportedly, the flights targeted included 10 from IndiGo, 10 from Vistara, and 10 from Air India, all of which received threats during this period. With this, incidents involving multiple hoax calls, have pushed the total number of such threats received by the airline this week to over 120.

Reportedly, the most recent threats targeted flights to major destinations such as Jeddah, Istanbul, and Riyadh. After the fresh threats, IndiGo promptly followed security protocols, ensuring that all passengers were safely disembarked, and authorities were alerted.

One of the affected flights, Flight 6E 164 from Mangaluru to Mumbai, received a security alert, disembarked the passengers, and thorough security checks were conducted. Another Flight 6E 75 from Ahmedabad to Jeddah was escorted to the isolation bay upon landing, where passengers were safely evacuated, following the standard operating procedures.

Reports stated, other flights that faced similar threats include Flight 6E 118 from Lucknow to Pune, Flight 6E 67 from Hyderabad to Jeddah, Flight 6E 18 from Istanbul to Mumbai, Flight 6E 83 from Delhi to Dammam, Flight 6E 77 from Bengaluru to Jeddah (diverted to Doha), Flight 6E 12 from Istanbul to Delhi, Flight 6E 65 from Kozhikode to Jeddah (diverted to Riyadh) and Flight 6E 63 from Delhi to Jeddah (diverted to Medina).

These fresh threats follow a day after Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that making hoax bomb threat calls to airlines will be made a cognisable offence. In the last few days, multiple carriers have received several such calls, significantly disrupting flight operations across the country.

On Saturday alone, over 30 flights received such messages. The carriers include Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Vistara, SpiceJet, Star Air and Alliance Air. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with CEOs and representatives of airlines in New Delhi on October 19.

Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister asserted that he will not apologise for his controversial remarks advocating the eradication of Sanatana Dharma, mentioning that the remarks were aimed at addressing allegedly repressive practices towards women. The DMK leader said that his words were misinterpreted, leading to the controversy that erupted in September 2023.

Addressing an event on October 21, 2024, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that he echoed the views of Dravidian leaders like Periyar, former Chief Minister CN Annadurai, and M Karunanidhi.

He added that women were not allowed to study, and were unable to leave their homes, also if their husbands died, they would have to die as well. Mentioning that Thanthai Periyar spoke against all of this, he continued that he echoed what Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar said.

Udhayanidhi, son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in September 2023 sparked a massive row after he compared Sanatana Dharma with dengue and malaria and said that it should not just be opposed, but eradicated. He also argued that Sanatana Dharma is against social justice and equality. His remarks drew severe criticism and protests, especially from the BJP and Hindu organisations, leading to multiple legal cases being filed against him.

The Deputy Chief Minister claimed that his words were twisted, and cases were filed against him, not just in Tamil Nadu but in several courts across the country. Asserting that he will face all the cases, the DMK leader said that he is the grandson of Kalaignar, and will stand by what he said.

Udhayanidhi further alleged that there is an attempt to impose Hindi in the state, pointing out that recent changes to the Tamil Nadu anthem serve as evidence of these efforts. He claimed that certain words were deliberately removed from the state anthem during a recent Doordarshan Tamil program, igniting controversy.

Udhayanidhi Stalin who was the state sports minister, was made the Deputy Chief Minister on September 30. The DMK leader’s elevation was reportedly delayed due to the Sanatana controversy.

After multiple Indian airlines received bomb threats, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday announced that making hoax bomb threat calls to airlines will be made a cognisable offence. 

The hoax bomb threat disrupted flight operations across the country. Addressing a press conference, the Civil Aviation Minister termed the aforesaid situation sensitive, and said that those who make such hoax calls will be placed on the no-fly list of airlines.

The Minister stated that they have conducted multiple meetings on this issue and concluded that amendments to the rules and regulations are necessary. He added that the amendments will strengthen the cause they are currently fighting for. He asserted that once the perpetrators are apprehended, they will be placed on the no-fly list. Ram Mohan Naidu also said that the Aviation Ministry is in contact with other ministries to strengthen the existing laws.

He pointed out that there is the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act, and they are working on amending this act. He added that they are also consulting with other ministries to ensure that hoax calls become a cognisable offence. He also sought changes to Aircraft Security Rules.

Civil Aviation Minister Naidu further said that they are trying to assess the situation, terming it very sensitive. He noted that more than 75 airlines received threat messages, either written in lavatories or through social media, in the past few days. On Saturday, more than 30 flights received such messages. The airlines include Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Vistara, SpiceJet, Star Air and Alliance Air.

Reportedly, the Police have 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 has been placed among others.

Earlier, a 17-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh was arrested, and the investigation revealed that he was responsible for some of the calls. Nonetheless, the origin of the majority of the threats is yet to be traced. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with CEOs and representatives of airlines in New Delhi on Saturday.