Bomb Threats Cause Panic for Air India and Indigo Flights in Mumbai and Delhi
On October 14, security agencies in Mumbai and Delhi were on high alert due to threatening messages on social media platform X. The messages, allegedly from a group identifying as terrorists from Pakistan, claimed that an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York had 6 kg of RDX and six terrorists on board, threatening to hijack the plane.
At 3:30 am, Air India received two alarming messages from a user named Fazluddin Nirban, stating, “6kg of RDX and our 6 terrorists are travelling in your flight VT-AER AI 119 New York, this flight will be hijacked in next 20 min and will be blown up in the sky. Today India will cry. Pakistan Zindabad.”
The bomb threat assessment committee (BTAC) was convened in Mumbai and Delhi, declaring the threat as “Specific” by 3:55 am. The Air India flight was diverted to Delhi, landing at IGI Airport around 4 am. A senior officer confirmed that no suspicious items or persons were found on the flight after a thorough inspection.
Usha Rangnani, DCP (Delhi Airport), stated that all passengers and crew disembarked safely and underwent security procedures. Air India ensured minimal inconvenience to passengers, providing refreshments and arranging hotel accommodations. The flight was rescheduled for October 15.
Additionally, two Indigo flights from Mumbai to Muscat and Jeddah received similar bomb threats. The aircraft were moved to an isolated bay for mandatory security checks, as confirmed by an Indigo spokesperson.
Doubts Revealed
Bomb Threats -: A bomb threat is when someone says there is a bomb somewhere, which can be very scary. It usually causes a lot of worry and makes people take extra safety steps to make sure everyone is safe.
Air India -: Air India is a big airline in India. It is like a big bus in the sky that takes people from one place to another, but it flies in the air.
Indigo Flights -: Indigo is another airline in India. It is known for being affordable and having many flights to different places in India and around the world.
Mumbai -: Mumbai is a large city in India, known for being very busy and having lots of people. It is also famous for Bollywood, which is like Hollywood in America.
Delhi -: Delhi is the capital city of India. It is a very important city where many government buildings and historical places are located.
Security Agencies -: Security agencies are groups of people who work to keep everyone safe. They make sure that places like airports are secure and that no bad things happen.
Social Media -: Social media is a way people use the internet to talk to each other and share information. It includes platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Explosives -: Explosives are materials that can cause explosions. They are very dangerous and can cause a lot of damage if not handled properly.
Terrorists -: Terrorists are people who use violence to scare others and try to achieve their goals. They often target places where many people gather to cause fear.
Disembarked -: Disembarked means getting off a plane or a ship. It is like when you get off a bus after reaching your stop.
Rescheduled -: Rescheduled means changing the time something is supposed to happen. For example, if a flight is rescheduled, it will take off at a different time than originally planned.