Over the past 48 hours, At least 10 Indian flights have received hoax bomb threats which resulted in long delays and diversions, reports BBC
On Tuesday, following a bomb threat, Singapore's Air Force sent two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane away from populated areas.
In India, Hoax bomb threats to airlines are not too uncommon. However, it is still unclear what triggered this sudden surge.
On Monday, three international flights that took off from Mumbai were delayed after an X handle posted threats. Police have detained a teenager in connection with this.
On Tuesday, seven flights were affected by the threats issued by another X handle. The account has already been suspended.
Every Indian airport has a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. The job of this committee is to assess the gravity of the threat and take action accordingly.
A threat may lead to the involvement of the bomb disposal squad, ambulances, sniffer dogs, doctors and police.
All of these factors may cause delay which will cost thousands of dollars in damages to airlines.
On Tuesday, Singapore's defence minister said that two of the city state's fighter jets "scrambled and escorted" the Air India Express plane before it landed safely at Changi airport.
"Once on the ground, the plane was handed to the Airport Police. Investigations are ongoing," said Singapore's defence minister.
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