India: Teenager detained by Mumbai police for bomb threats to flights aimed at framing friend
School dropout creates social media account under his friend’s name and posts threats
Mumbai: A minor has been taken into custody by the Mumbai Police in connection with a series of bomb threats issued to various airlines since Monday, which led to several flight diversions, including one to a remote airport in Canada reports in Indian media said.
The threats were allegedly made by the boy to frame a friend with whom he had a financial dispute, NDTV reported.
The minor was arrested from Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon and agencies are verifying if there is a larger conspiracy behind these threats.
India's aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in a statement that the police had "arrested a minor responsible for issuing bomb threats targeting three flights".
"All others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted," the statement added.
The 17-year-old, a school dropout from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, and his father were summoned by the Mumbai Police on Tuesday. While the teenager is currently in custody and being taken to a remand home, his father is still being questioned, according to police sources. The boy reportedly created a social media account under his friend’s name and posted the bomb threats from it.
A total of 13 threats have been issued, starting with four on Monday, prompting the Mumbai Police to file three first information reports (FIRs).
The teenager is now in custody related to the first FIR concerning Monday’s threats. On Monday, he issued hoax threats for four flights, three of which were international.
Two of those flights were delayed, including Air India flight AI 119 from Mumbai to New York, which was diverted to New Delhi, while one flight was cancelled.
On Tuesday, at least seven flights were affected, including Air India flight AI 127 from Delhi to Chicago, which was diverted to Iqaluit airport in Canada. Additionally, an IndiGo flight from Damman in Saudi Arabia to Lucknow made an emergency landing in Jaipur, and threats were received by Air India Express, Akasa Air, and Alliance Air.
Threats continued on Wednesday, affecting a New Delhi-Bengaluru Akasa Air flight, which returned to the capital, and an IndiGo Mumbai-Delhi flight, which was diverted to Ahmedabad. The Delhi Police has also registered several FIRs related to the threats, which were discussed in a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport. Aviation officials informed MPs that they have identified a few “critical leads” and potential suspects.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held a meeting with officials from his department and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Senior airline officials reported to NDTV that while hoax calls significantly impact finances, they have no choice but to take them seriously.