NEW DELHI - More than 70 fake bomb threats have been made against flights operated by multiple Indian airlines last week, sparking fear among passengers and global delays, Indian media reported on Oct 20.

       All flights landed safely, but the spate of threats has resulted in planes being diverted to Canada and Germany, and fighter jets scrambled to escort aircraft in the skies above Britain and Singapore.

       India’s government and civil aviation authorities have warned that “very strict action” will be taken.

       New Delhi’s civil aviation authorities have not said how many threats have been received in the past week, but the Times of India and broadcaster News18 reported more than 70 hoaxes targeting both domestic and international flights since Oct 13.

       At least 30 hoax threats were made on Oct 19 alone.

       The global impact of delays and diversions has been heavy on airline schedules and costs.

       At least one person – a minor – has been arrested in India, but the threats have continued.

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       “All others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted,” India’s aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said after the arrest on Oct 16.

       A report in The Indian Express said an anonymous account on social media X was suspended after posting bomb threats to at least 40 flights on Oct 18 and 19.

       This included both Indian and international airlines, including from the United States and New Zealand.

       “There are bombs placed onboard... No one will make out alive. Hurry up and evacuate the plane,” read the identical messages from the suspended account, the newspaper reported.

       Among recent flights impacted was an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York, with US security officials sweeping the plane after its safe landing on Oct 19.

       Other flights impacted include an Air India plane from New Delhi to Chicago, which was forced to make an emergency landing in the far northern Canadian city of Iqaluit on Oct 15.

       Canada’s airforce had to fly the passengers on.

       On the same day, Singapore scrambled fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane.

       On Oct 17, British RAF fighter jets escorted an Air India Boeing 777-300 after a threat was made against the plane, which landed safely in London.

       On Oct 18, a Vistara flight from New Delhi to London had to divert to Frankfurt in Germany. AFP