A spokesperson for X, formerly known as Twitter, announced on Thursday that the company is dedicated to addressing terror threats made on its platform against Indian flights.

In response to an inquiry from The Hindu, the spokesperson stated, “We prohibit violent threats on X and take all reports seriously.” They emphasized that this includes threats to harm civilian infrastructure vital to daily life and business activities. The spokesperson assured that their teams, systems, and reporting channels are continuously working to enhance safety for all users in India.

In light of a series of bomb threats directed at Indian airlines, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has taken a firm stance against social media platform X, accusing it of “abetting” the spread of false alarms.

During a virtual meeting led by Joint Secretary Sanket S. Bhondve, representatives from various airlines and social media companies, including X and Meta, discussed the alarming situation. Bhondve stressed the need for the platform to clarify the measures it is implementing to curb the propagation of dangerous rumors, suggesting that X is facilitating criminal activity.

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring passenger safety while addressing these threats. He warned that individuals found guilty of spreading hoax bomb threats could face severe consequences, including being placed on a no-fly list.

The government is also contemplating amendments to the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act, which would allow for legal action against offenses committed while an aircraft is on the ground. Current regulations primarily focus on incidents occurring during flights.

When questioned about a potential conspiracy behind the surge in threats, Naidu confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway. “Without investigation, we cannot put out any pattern… let us wait for the completion of the investigation,” he stated.

Naidu assured the public that responses to these threats are being handled flexibly and on a case-by-case basis. He emphasized that even though the threats have been identified as hoaxes, they should not be taken lightly. Enhanced security measures, including increased surveillance through additional CCTV cameras, are being implemented at airports to ensure thorough monitoring.

In a related development, Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has issued a warning to passengers, advising them to avoid Air India flights between November 1 and 19, coinciding with the anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots.

New rule

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan has announced plans to amend the 1982 Civil Aviation Act. The proposed changes would allow for the immediate arrest and investigation of suspects without the need for court orders.

The new legislation also mandates that offenders be placed on no-fly lists.

Police investigation

A police investigation has revealed that the motive behind the detained 17-year-old’s actions was a business dispute. Police Officer Maneesh Kalwaniya confirmed that the suspect intended to frame another person through these threats.

In response, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has implemented stricter security measures at Indian airports. The new directive includes secondary inspections at ladder points before boarding.

Airline staff will also conduct extra screenings of hand baggage at boarding locations, while passengers will undergo comprehensive frisking just prior to entering the aircraft.

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IndiGO Airline says 10 of its flights received bomb threats

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Context

On Tuesday, social media platforms received bomb threats targeting 59 Indian flights, marking the ninth consecutive day of aviation security alerts.

IndiGo Airlines (6E) was hit by 23 threats through two separate posts on platform X, with the messages arriving at 11:40 pm on Monday and 4:00 pm on Tuesday.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) assessed these threats as non-specific, allowing most flights to continue their schedules.

However, three IndiGo flights heading to Jeddah had to be diverted: Flight 6E 77 from Bengaluru landed in Doha, Flight 6E 65 from Kozhikode was redirected to Riyadh, and Flight 6E 63 from Delhi diverted to Medina.

The threats affected multiple airlines, with Air India (AI) receiving 13 threats, Akasa Air (QP) facing 12, and Vistara (UK) encountering 11. On Monday night alone, 30 domestic and international flights across IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India reported bomb threats.