The government asked social media platforms Meta and X to share information about fake bomb threat messages to airlines and began identifying those behind such activities, even as more than 80 flights received the threats on Thursday.

Sources in the know said the government has also asked leading multinational technology conglomerates to cooperate with it to help identify those behind such fake calls, saying it involves the public good.

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In 11 days, more than 250 flights operated by Indian carriers received bomb threats. Most of the threats were issued via social media.

According to top government sources, the government has tracked down some of the culprits and action is being taken accordingly.

However, they did not provide specific details such as where these fake messages came from and who were behind them.

“The government has told social media companies Meta and X to share data regarding such fake calls and messages made on their platforms targeting multiple airlines and asked them to cooperate,” one of the sources said.

The source also said that “they will have to cooperate and provide data because this involves the public good at large.” This was in response to a question on whether or not social media companies are cooperating with the government on the issue.

More than 80 domestic and international flights of various Indian airlines received bomb threats on Thursday, sources said.

Sources said around 20 Air India, Vistara and IndiGo flights received bomb threats, while Akasa Air received threats for 13 flights. Besides, about 5 flights of Alliance Air and SpiceJet received the threats, they added.

An IndiGo spokesperson, in a statement on Thursday, said it had received security alerts for 20 flights.

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About 13 Akasa Air flights operating on Thursday received security alerts and that after thorough inspections, all affected aircraft were cleared for operations, an airline spokesman said.

“Airport services teams at all affected airports coordinated with local authorities to ensure effective management of the situation, including the safe disembarkation of passengers, assistance and refreshments as required,” the spokesperson said in a statement .

In a statement, a Vistara spokesman said several of its flights had received security threats on social media on Thursday.

At least six flights to and from Kochi airport received bomb threats on Thursday. This included a SpiceJet flight from Dubai to Kochi, airport sources said.

On Wednesday, an unidentified caller threatened to blow up Dumna Airport in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, which turned out to be a hoax, a police officer said.

Earlier this week, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the government plans to take legislative action to deal with cases of bomb threats against airlines, including placing the perpetrators of such threats on the no-fly list.

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