Indian airlines have been hit by a series of bomb threats in recent days, with two separate incidents occurring on Tuesday. The first incident involved an Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit, Canada due to a security threat posted online. All 211 passengers and crew were safely relocated to the airport.
Simultaneously, a second threat targeted an Air India Express passenger plane enroute to Singapore from Madurai. The airline received an email claiming there was a bomb onboard, prompting Singapore to scramble two Air Force F-15 fighter jets to escort the plane before landing at Changi Airport. Investigations into this incident are ongoing.
Multiple other flights operated by Indian carriers have been affected by similar hoax bomb threats, resulting in delays and diversions. These threats, which have appeared to originate from emails or social media posts, have disrupted both domestic and international flights.
While it remains unclear whether these threats are connected, Air India emphasized the seriousness with which they are being taken. The airline is working closely with authorities to ensure that those responsible for the disruptions are held accountable.
India's Ministry of Civil Aviation is set to convene a meeting to address the situation. Meanwhile, tensions between India and Canada have escalated following the expulsion of diplomats from both countries, though there is no indication that the bomb hoaxes are related to this diplomatic spat.
The recent threats to Air India flights in Canada have evoked memories of the tragic 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 by Sikh extremists, the deadliest terrorist attack in Canada's history. The flight, which was enroute from Montreal to New Delhi, exploded off the coast of Ireland, claiming the lives of all 329 people on board.
