To date, as many as 11 fake user profiles on social networking site X have been marked for sharing bomb hoax messages related to several Indian airlines, which has put the central security agencies in a tight spot.
However, the investigators said that the number of profiles from which such messages originate could increase with more such hoax messages emerging from social media posts, particularly from X (formerly Twitter).
The senior officers probing the matter agreed that the messages could be from one individual or a gang operating from an exceedingly sophisticated cyber network.
According to sources, News18 has learned that the probe now involves both central and state teams, including members from the central intelligence gathering units and cybercrime tracking agencies.
It has been eight days since the first bomb hoax message was received, and the number continues to multiply by the day, shaking the Indian aviation sector.
The agencies have decided not to issue grounding or diversion orders unless the serious threat is confirmed. However, taking no chances, some airlines are making independent calls and diverting flights for passenger safety, said a senior IPS officer serving the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
As threats continue to surface, caution and operational integrity will now be a critical focus for the aviation security teams. It is no longer a cybercrime case.
Aviation is now a complex area because it’s critical to the world. There are several strict norms for global airspace. We cannot even disclose all those vital details at this point,” said the senior officer associated with the investigation process.
“Expect tighter scrutiny as investigations have ramped up. We are working on some leads,” he added. Further explaining, the senior officer maintained that the current spate of such hoax messages has raised tension in aviation security because authorities tread an almost razor-thin line between managing panic and passenger protection.
