Delhi chicago flight diverted to canada as bomb hoaxes disrupt operations for 2nd day

Delhi chicago flight diverted to canada as bomb hoaxes disrupt operations for 2nd day

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: A rash of bomb threats on social media disrupted at least 10 Indian flights the past two days, prompting diversions and security checks. Flights such as Air India's Delhi-Chicago and IndiGo's Dammam-Lucknow were diverted Tuesday, following Monday's diversion of AI's Mumbai-New York flight. All threats were later confirmed as hoaxes.

Authorities intensified their crackdown, with Mumbai police detaining two suspects, including a Chhattisgarh businessman's 17-year-old son.

UP officials traced 22 bomb threats targeting several flights such as those to Lucknow and Ayodhya within five hours to an X handle, @schizobomber777, which has since been suspended.

Flights affected Tuesday included AI Express Jaipur-Ayodhya, SpiceJet's Darbhanga-Mumbai and Akasa's Bagdogra-Bengaluru flight.

Affected airlines followed standard protocols, isolating aircraft for checks. Long-haul flights faced additional delays due to crew duty limits and passenger management challenges at remote airports.

The AI flight was mid-air when it received the threat and was diverted to Iqaluit in Canada. The airline confirmed that AI127 was undergoing re-screening, with support provided to stranded passengers. It is considering legal action to recover losses and urged stricter govt action against such disruptions.

Airlines, including IndiGo & SpiceJet, emphasised that passenger safety is their top priority and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.

Bureau of Civil Aviation Security had in June proposed that people making hoax threats be added to a no-fly list, but the move awaits legal backing. BCAS chief Zulfiquar Hasan reassured travellers: ‘Indian skies are absolutely safe.’ He said law enforcement is working to track down those responsible.

A Mumbai police team arrived in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon to probe three threats - AI's flight to New York, & IndiGo flights 6E1275 to Muscat and 6E56 to Jeddah.

They detained two suspects Tuesday: Fazluddin Nirban (34) - a shop owner, and a 17-year-old student, identified as the primary suspect. The teen, a self-taught tech expert, allegedly posted three threats on X using accounts @fazluddin69 and @fazluddin27077, falsely claiming AI119 carried ‘6kg of RDX and six terrorists’. Authorities suspect the boy misused Nirban's account due to a personal feud.