OCTOBER 21, 2024- Indian airlines are grappling with a surge in hoax bomb threats that are leading to flight diversions, cancellations, and widespread chaos for passengers. In one such case, a Mumbai-to-Chicago Air India flight was diverted to the remote city of Iqaluit, Canada, after a bomb threat was posted online, leaving 211 passengers stranded in freezing conditions. Though the threat turned out to be false, this incident is part of a growing trend, with at least 90 bomb threats targeting Indian airlines in the past week alone, creating uncertainty and disrupting travel plans on a massive scale.

Passengers have voiced frustration over being stranded in unfamiliar places with limited communication, and many have called for better airline response and transparency. The constant threat of false alarms is causing operational strain on airlines and prompting heightened security measures across Indian airports. With 41 airports receiving hoax threats in a single day this past June, the situation is not only affecting flight schedules but also raising serious concerns over the vulnerability of the country’s aviation sector to such disruptive tactics.

Airlines and authorities are now under pressure to address this crisis and safeguard the safety and reliability of air travel in the face of escalating hoaxes.