3 hours Ago By [email protected]
The Union Ministry of Electronics and IT slammed social media platform X through which many of the hoax bomb threats targeted at several airlines were circulated. Over 120 flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats in the past few days. Joint Secretary Sanket S Bhondve held a virtual meeting with representatives of airlines and social media platforms such as X and Meta.
Reportedly, the official said that the situation amounts to X abetting crime and questioned its representatives on the steps taken to stop such alarming rumours from spreading. Notably, the Centre pulled up the microblogging site after the Delhi Police failed to get the details of the user’s ID or domain of a few X accounts that were found to be involved in posting threat messages to flights. So far, the Delhi Police has filed eight cases in connection with bomb threats.
Reports quoted a senior police official as saying that the threats messages were received through anonymous posts on X which were later suspended by the authorities. The officer also said that three accounts on social media platform ‘X’ namely, @adamlanza111, @psychotichuman and @schizobomer777 have been found involved in posting threat messages to flights. A Delhi Police official said that they have registered eight separate cases in response to threats to over 90 domestic or international flights operating from Delhi.
Reportedly, the first case was registered on October 16 following a bomb threat received through X, targeting a Bengaluru-bound Akasa Air flight. The officer stated that it was suspected that the handler used VPN (Virtual private network) or dark web browser to set up the accounts on X and then posted the messages from more than one account. On Tuesday, 30 flights operated by IndiGo, Vistara and Air India received such threats.
Following the threats, the airlines said they followed standard operating procedures, and that authorities were alerted and security protocols were followed. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu while addressing the press on Monday, said that the government is trying to tackle the situation without compromising passengers safety. He further added that those circulating such hoax threats will face tough action, including being put on a no-fly list.
The Minister also asserted that the government plans to amend the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act so that action could be initiated for offences when an aircraft is on the ground. At present, the aviation security norms largely cover in-flight offences. Rahul Gandhi says Wayanad will have two MPs after Priyanka files nomination for bypolls 30 IndiGo, Air India, Vistara flights get bomb threats on Monday Airports in Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankot on high alert for security reasons Aviation boom: Indian budget airlines to expand fleet by 900 aircraft by 2024 Your email address will not be published.
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