In a span of less than 48 hours, a total of 10 major Indian flights, including Air India, were either grounded or forced to make emergency landings following bomb threats. Although thankfully all the threats turned out to be hoaxes, they triggered a swift response from security agencies, which launched counter-terrorism drills across multiple airports in preparation for the upcoming festive season.
Among the targeted flights were Air India’s Delhi-Chicago route, IndiGo’s Dammam-Lucknow service, Air India Express’s Ayodhya-Bengaluru flight, SpiceJet’s Darbhanga-Mumbai flight (SG116), Akasa Air’s Bagdogra-Bengaluru flight (QP 1373), Alliance Air’s Amritsar-Dehradun-Delhi flight (9I 650), and Air India Express’s Madurai-Singapore route (IX 684), all of which received bomb threats.
On the 14th, three more flights—two from IndiGo and one from Air India—were also subjected to fake threats.
Details of the Bomb Threats
According to a PTI report, sources revealed that an X (formerly Twitter) user had posted threats targeting seven different flights. Following intervention by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), cybersecurity agencies successfully suspended the X account responsible for these threats.
One of the posts directed at Air India read: “@AirIndiaX @jaipur_police @JprRuralPolice I placed bombs onboard Flight IX765. The bombs will go off very soon. Blood will spread everywhere. Hurry up and evacuate; you don’t have much time left.”
A similar message was posted for SpiceJet, where the user wrote: “@flyspicejet Hi. There are explosives onboard Flight SEJ116. The bombs will go off soon. You will all die. Down the plane quickly before it’s too late.”
Akasa Air was also targeted, with the post stating: “Placed explosives onboard Flight QP1373, which departed from Siliguri and is landing in Bengaluru. You will all die.”
Four separate X accounts issued comparable threats to three international flights departing from Mumbai on Monday. All these messages were eventually confirmed as hoaxes after security, intelligence agencies, airlines, and airport authorities executed anti-terrorism protocols, including bomb and hijack drills.
Ongoing Investigations
According to the CISF, multiple X accounts responsible for the threats have been identified and suspended. Initial investigations suggest that some of these threats originated in London and other international locations.
In addition, a 17-year-old boy from Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, has been detained for allegedly posting some of these bomb threats. The boy, along with his father and another individual, was summoned by Mumbai police. The teenager was presented before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and remanded to four-day custody for further questioning. Investigators revealed that two X handles, @fazluddin69 and @fazluddin27077, were used to post the threatening messages.
‘Inappropriate…’: US Raises Concerns Over Bomb Threats to Air India Flights
Meanwhile, The United States on Tuesday strongly condemned threats against commercial aviation, labeling them as unacceptable, after several Air India flights, including those bound for Chicago and New York, were targeted with bomb threats.
One flight from New Delhi to Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing at Iqaluit Airport in Canada, while another from Mumbai to New York had to return to New Delhi. Fighter jets were also scrambled in response to a threat made against a flight en route to Singapore.
For months, separatist Sikh groups, mostly composed of American and Canadian citizens, have been openly calling for attacks on Air India flights.
“Any threats against commercial aviation are inappropriate and are taken very seriously by our law enforcement agencies,” said U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller during a press briefing. “I would refer you to the Department of Justice and other law enforcement agencies for further details.”
In its statement, Air India acknowledged that it has been the target of multiple threats in recent months, alongside other airlines. Although these threats were ultimately deemed hoaxes, the airline emphasized its commitment to treating every warning seriously.
Air India also pledged full cooperation with authorities to track down those responsible and said it would consider legal action to recover damages for the disruptions and inconvenience caused to its passengers.
The Khalistan Angle When Gurpatwant Singh Pannun Issued Alarming Threats To Air India
In one of the most recent and alarming threats issued on November 4, 2023, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a name that stirs fear and anger across India, released a video warning Sikhs to avoid flying on Air India flights after November 19, claiming their lives would be in danger. Pannun, a Canadian resident and designated terrorist, is the founder of the banned group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which advocates for a separate Khalistan state for Sikhs in India.
Pannun declared that Air India flights would be grounded on November 19, threatening to blow up the airline’s planes. This threat coincides with the final of the ICC One-Day International World Cup 2023, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad on the same day. Pannun referred to the tournament as the “World Terror Cup,” alleging it symbolizes the “oppression” of Sikhs by the Indian government.
He further warned that Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport would be shut down on November 19 and renamed ‘Shahid Beant Singh, Shahid Satwant Singh Khalistan Airport’—honoring the assassins of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
A Grim Reminder of the 1985 Air India Bombing
Pannun’s threat echoes the tragic 1985 Air India bombing, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks involving an airplane prior to 9/11.
Khalistani extremists planted a bomb on Air India Flight 182, traveling from Montreal to India via London, killing all 329 people on board, most of whom were Canadians of Indian origin. Another bomb, intended for a second Air India flight, detonated at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, killing two baggage handlers.
Ripudaman Singh Malik, a Sikh extremist, was found guilty in connection with the Flight 182 bombing. The attack is widely believed to have been orchestrated by Canada-based Sikh extremists in retaliation for the 1984 Indian government’s storming of the Golden Temple, led by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Government Response
Following Pannun’s threat, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) assured the public that security measures around Air India flights and at Indira Gandhi International Airport have been significantly enhanced. Authorities have taken all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. The MEA also urged the Sikh community not to be swayed by Pannun’s divisive propaganda, calling on them to reject his violent agenda.
Outrage and Condemnation
Pannun’s threats sparked widespread outrage, with many in the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada, condemning his actions. Various Sikh groups have shown their support for Air India, organizing rallies and events to express their solidarity with India and to oppose Pannun’s rhetoric.
Pannun’s Background and Propaganda
Pannun, based in New York, serves as a legal adviser and spokesperson for the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). He has used social media platforms to spread propaganda and incite violence within the Sikh diaspora. Wanted by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) on charges of sedition and 22 criminal cases, Pannun is known for organizing so-called ‘referendums’ in various countries, seeking support for Khalistan—despite the complete lack of legal or democratic legitimacy behind these actions.
Born in Khankot village in Punjab’s Amritsar district, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a lawyer by profession, having studied law at Guru Nanak Dev University. He practiced law in the Punjab and Haryana High Court before moving to New York, where he became the legal adviser and spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Despite his public persona as an advocate for Khalistan, Pannun’s actions have been widely condemned, and he is wanted for his involvement in various terror-related incidents and threats against India.
Pannun’s threats to blow up Air India flights are a cowardly and despicable act. His continued attempts to spread violence and discord must be countered, not only by the Indian government but also by the global Sikh community, known for its bravery and loyalty. The Sikh community must stand united against Pannun’s divisive and dangerous agenda, ensuring that peace and harmony prevail.
