'You All Will Die': Ten Social Media Accounts Suspended Over Hoax Airline Bomb Threats With Common Warnings

Cybersecurity agencies have suspended or blocked more than half a dozen social media accounts responsible for issuing hoax bomb threats to several Indian airlines this week, according to official sources on Thursday.

The sources informed PTI that these accounts were thoroughly analysed by a joint team comprising cyber, aviation security, and intelligence agencies, leading to the decision to suspend them due to their ongoing "mindless" threats.

The agencies have also found some common lines and words used in these fake threats like 'bombs', 'blood will spread everywhere', 'explosive devices', 'this is not a joke' and 'you will all die' and 'bomb rakhwa dia hai' (Hindi for bomb has been placed) among others.

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Sources indicated that, in addition to filing police FIRs for each hoax bomb threat, agencies have ramped up 'cyber patrolling' across social media and the dark web. This is being done to identify any connections or patterns in the online threats that have caused flight diversions or groundings.

Bomb Threats Continue for Fourth Day, Multiple Domestic Flights Targeted

The trend of bomb threats targeting domestic airlines persisted for a fourth consecutive day, with several flights being threatened on Thursday. Authorities have suspended or blocked around 10 social media accounts linked to these threats, official sources reported. On Thursday, four Air India Express flights, two Vistara flights, and one Indigo flight were among those targeted. Air India also confirmed receiving several hoax bomb threats, though they did not disclose the exact number of affected flights.

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Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Thursday stated that the ministry is considering regulatory amendments to enforce stricter actions. When asked about a potential conspiracy behind the bomb threats, he responded that current information points to individuals, minors, and pranksters being responsible.