Six Vistara flights get bomb threats | Image/PTI (File)
As many as six flights operated by Vistara airline received fresh bomb threats on social media on Sunday, October 20, prompting emergency checks across various airports, said officials.
As many as 13 flights operated by Vistara, IndiGo and Akasa airlines received fresh bomb threats on social media on Sunday, October 20, prompting emergency checks across various airports, said officials.
The six flights operated by Vistara airline that received threat are UK25 (Delhi to Frankfurt), UK106 (Singapore to Mumbai), UK146 (Bali to Delhi), UK116 (Singapore to Delhi), UK110 (Singapore to Pune) and UK107 (Mumbai to Singapore).
“We confirm receiving security threats on social media for six Vistara flights operating on 20 October 2024,” said the airline in an official statement, highlighting a concerning rise of bomb scares within the aviation sector.
“In line with the protocols, all relevant authorities were immediately notified, and security procedures, as directed by them, are being carried out. As always, the safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft remain our top priority,” said a Vistara spokesperson.
It comes a day after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) met with airline CEOs on Saturday after multiple flights received at least 70 hoax bomb threats in the past week.
More than 30 flights across major airlines such as IndiGo, Akasa Air, Star Air, and Alliance Air were targeted on Saturday alone. The CEOs were asked to follow the standard operating procedure for tackling the threats.
Akasa, IndiGo Flights Disrupted
Earlier today, a bomb threat was issued to an Akasa airline flight operating from Lucknow to Mumbai (AKJ152F). The airline said it’s following all safety and security procedures in coordination with local authorities.
The IndiGo authorities said that as many as six flights of the airline were disrupted today following the threat calls, prompting security checks.
The IndiGo flights that received the bomb threat are 6E 58 operating from Jeddah to Mumbai, 6E 87 from Kozhikode to Dammam, 6E 11 from Delhi to Istanbul, 6E 17 from Mumbai to Istanbul, 6E 133 from Pune to Jodhpur and 6E 112 flying from Goa to Ahmedabad.
“The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines,” the airline said in a statement.
Karnataka’s Sambra Airport Gets Bomb Threat
The spate of bomb scares targeting Indian aviation continued on Sunday after Karnataka’s Sambra Airport in Belagavi received a threat through email, said an official aware of the matter.
The director of Sambra Airport, Thyagaraj, received the threat letter via email, written by an unidentified individual who threatened to blow up a Chennai-Belagavi flight, triggering panic in the area.
An FIR has been registered at the Marihal Police Station in Belagavi, said officials, adding that a probe is underway to trace the origin of the bomb threat.
