Bomb threats: Singapore scrambles jets for AI Express flight from Madurai; lands safely

NEW DELHI: The menace of hoax threat messages playing havoc with flight schedules and passengers continues unabated. On Tuesday, at least seven flights — including an Air India Delhi-Chicago flight that had to be diverted to a nondescript Canadian town of Iqaluit and IndiGo’s Dammam-Lucknow to Jaipur — saw such threats after three on Monday when AI’s Mumbai-New York nonstop was diverted to Delhi for this reason. That makes it at least 10 flights in 1.5 days.

The hoax for AI Express Madurai- Singapore flight, which landed safely at its destination, saw the most dramatic effect with Singapore scrambling fighter jets for it. Ng Eng Hen, Singapore’s defence minister, said on X: “Air India Express received an email that there was a bomb on board flight AXB684 that was bound for Singapore. Two of our RSAF F-15SGs scrambled and escorted the plane away from populated areas, to finally land safely at Singapore Changi Airport at around 10:04pm (Tuesday night). Our Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were also activated. Once on the ground, the plane was handed to the Airport Police. Investigations are ongoing. Many thanks to the dedication and professionalism of our SAF and Home Team that keep us safe in our homes, even when threats exist around us.” The flight landed safely.

Checks revealed the four Tuesday threats — including for AI 127 Delhi-Chicago diverted flight; IndiGo’s 6E 98 Dammam-Lucknow diverted; Air India Express Jaipur-Ayodhya & Madurai-Singapore; SpiceJet’s SG 116 Darbhanga-Mumbai; Akasa’s QP 1373 Bagdogra-Bengaluru — were hoax. Threats for some of these flights were posted on X (former Twitter) from a handle — @schizobomber777 — that has been suspended now. “You will all die… Bombs will go off very soon… Blood will spread everywhere,” the Tweets for multiple flights including AI and AI Express read.

As per protocol, after getting any threat aircraft — baggage and passengers — are thoroughly checked before being are released for next flight or continuing the journey. But on long hauls like AI’s affected nonstops of last two days, this means the same crew can’t operate the flight as they will breach their maximum duty time limitations and a fresh set of crew has to be arranged. Doing so in a remote Canadian town takes time. Providing for well over 300 passengers at a small airport that many flyers can’t even exit for hotels till alternate arrangements are made due to lack of visas is also an uphill task for any airline.

Airlines are urging Govt to crack down on this menace that troubles passengers; disrupts schedules and costs a lot. Air India will “consider legal action against those responsible to recover damages incurred by the airline.”

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) had this June proposed to the Union aviation ministry that people people making hoax threats to flights and other aviation-linked infra be put on no fly list. However, this deterrent is yet to be put in place. A senior aviation ministry official said: “BCAS didn’t identity the relevant law to base this move on. We will work it out.”

BCAS DG Zulfiquar Hasan Tuesday sounded a stern warning to all those issuing these hoax messages. “All standard operating procedures were followed. All our flights are safe and the Indian skies are absolutely safe. We are confident of tracing all those behind these threat messages and very strict action under law will be taken against all of them. Police across the country is cooperating in ensuring this happens.” Hassan ensured air travellers amid growing threats that “there is zero risk in flying.”

An airline spokesperson said about Tuesday diversion: “Flight AI127 operating from Delhi to Chicago on Oct 15, 2024, was the subject of a security threat posted online and, as a precautionary measure, has landed at Iqaluit Airport in Canada. The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened as per the laid down security protocol. Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until such time that their journey can resume.”

“Air India notes that it, and other local airlines, have been subject to a number of threats in recent days. Though all have subsequently been found to be hoaxes, as a responsible airline operator all threats are taken seriously. The inconvenience to customers is sincerely regretted. Air India is extending all cooperation to authorities in identifying the perpetrators of such threats to ensure that they are held accountable for the disruption and inconvenience caused to passengers, and will consider legal action against those responsible to recover damages incurred by the airline,” the airline added.

IndiGo said in a statement: “Flight 6E 98, operating from Dammam to Lucknow, was redirected to Jaipur due to a security-related alert. The aircraft was isolated, and all passengers were safely disembarked. Ensuring the safety and security of our customers and crew remains paramount in all facets of our operations. We are working closely with the relevant authorities, and mandated checks are currently underway. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this situation may have caused our customers and appreciate their understanding.” SpiceJet and Akasa statements also said safety is paramount for them.