The IT Ministry on Wednesday criticized Elon Musk’s social media platform X after airlines received more than 100 bomb threats in recent days. Many of these hoaxes were circulated through social media. In a virtual meeting with airline and social media representatives, including X and Meta, the Ministry accused X of “abetting crime” by allowing the spread of alarming rumors.
Joint Secretary Sanket S Bhondve chaired the meeting. Authorities questioned X’s response to halting these threats.
Panic Among Passengers and Security Concerns
The bomb threats caused widespread panic, leading to flight diversions. Over 120 flights, including international routes, were affected. On Tuesday alone, 30 flights operated by IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India faced such threats. Security agencies scrambled to handle the situation.
Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu warned tough action would be taken against those spreading hoaxes, including placing them on a no-fly list.
Government to Amend Aviation Laws
The government plans to amend the ‘Suppression of Unlawful Acts’ against the ‘Safety of Civil Aviation Act’ to address offences while aircraft are on the ground. Current laws focus primarily on in-flight offences. The minister assured that legal changes are in process to treat such threats as cognizable offences.
Following the hoaxes, airlines implemented safety protocols, including diverting flights. Last week, an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was rerouted to Delhi due to a bomb threat.
