New Delhi, India

Several major Indian airlines, including IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India, were rocked by bomb threats across both domestic and international flights on Monday (Oct 21). In a statement, Vistara confirmed receiving security threats via social media.

Advertisment

"We confirm that a few of Vistara’s flights operating on 21 October 2024 received security threats on social media," said the airline's spokesperson.

"We immediately alerted the relevant authorities and are following all security procedures as directed by them. At Vistara, the safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft are of utmost importance," it added.

Also read | Indian government mulls putting culprits of hoax bomb calls on ‘no-fly list’

Advertisment

IndiGo statement

IndiGo also confirmed that some of its flights were affected by security alerts.

The airline revealed that nearly 10 flights faced security alerts, affecting routes that spanned from within India to international destinations. Among the flights threatened were domestic ones like 6E 164 and 6E 118, as well as on international routes, including 6E 75, 6E 67, 6E 83, 6E 18, 6E 63, 6E 65, and 6E 77. Many of the international flights, as per an ANI report, were either bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, or coming to India from Istanbul, Turkey. 

Advertisment

"Upon landing, the aircraft was taken to the isolation bay, and all customers were safely disembarked," said Indigo.

Also read | Air India Express flight from Dubai to Jaipur receives bomb threat via email

"At IndiGo, the safety and security of our customers and crew remains paramount in all facets of our operations," IndiGo reassured in its press statement.

"We worked closely with the relevant authorities, and standard operating procedures were followed. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this situation may have caused our customers and appreciate their understanding," it added.

Reacting to the bomb threats, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday ordered additional security checks at airports nationwide. 

Naidu also confirmed that the threats were posted using a private social media network, and investigations under the Ministry of Home Affairs were already underway. The perpetrators, once identified, would face swift action, including being placed on a no-fly list.

(With inputs from agencies)