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On Sunday, an Alliance Air flight en route from Assam to Kolkata was forced to make an emergency landing at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport due to a bomb threat. The threat, later confirmed to be a hoax, triggered widespread panic and disruption to the flight's schedule. This incident is just one example of a concerning trend of escalating bomb threats across India, highlighting the vulnerability of air travel to such false alarms.
The incident began when authorities received a message on social media, claiming that 10 passengers on Alliance Air flight 9I0752 (VTRKJ) ATR were carrying “two bombs each”. The message, circulating on social media platforms, immediately raised alarms, prompting airport officials to take swift action. The flight, which was already airborne, was instructed to make an emergency landing at a separate bay at 2.02 pm, a move that significantly disrupted the airport's operations.
Following the emergency landing, security personnel conducted a thorough search of the aircraft and all passengers. However, no explosives were found, confirming the bomb threat to be a hoax. Authorities are currently investigating the origin of the message and the individuals responsible for spreading the false information. This incident, along with 24 other similar bomb threats received across India on the same day, underscores the seriousness of the issue and the need for stricter measures to combat the proliferation of such false alerts.
The spike in bomb threats has raised concerns about the potential for chaos and disruption in India's air travel system. These false alerts, often spread via social media, can cause significant delays, inconveniences, and financial losses for airlines, passengers, and airport authorities. The need for a robust security response is paramount, coupled with a comprehensive investigation to identify and hold accountable those responsible for perpetrating such hoaxes.
Source: Bomb threat forces Alliance Air’s Assam-Kolkata flight to make emergency landing