Indian airlines hit by surge in security threats

NEW DELHI

Indian airlines are experiencing a sharp increase in reported security threats, with the latest incident involving a flight from Frankfurt to Mumbai, which received a security threat via social media.

The Vistara Airlines flight landed safely on Wednesday and was directed to an isolation bay at Mumbai airport, where passengers were safely disembarked, the airline confirmed Thursday.

This is the most recent in a string of security threats targeting Indian airlines, all of which have been confirmed as hoaxes.

Just a day prior, an Air India flight carrying 211 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing in Canada’s High Arctic region after receiving an online threat. Over the past three days, 20 such incidents have been reported.

Indian Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu condemned the recent bomb threats, stating on X that authorities are "closely monitoring the situation" and taking all necessary measures to ensure passenger safety. “We are committed to maintaining the highest security standards,” he added.

Naidu also reported that Mumbai police had apprehended a minor linked to bomb threats against three flights and emphasized that all individuals responsible for these disruptions would be identified and prosecuted.

The aviation ministry, led by Naidu, is now considering stricter regulations to combat hoax threats, potentially including a no-fly list for those found responsible for such incidents.