Centre Slams X Over Bomb Threats to Flights: Calls It ‘Abetting Crime’

Authorities have urged social media platforms to cooperate more effectively in providing timely information.

In response to a string of hoax bomb threats targeting both domestic and international flights, the central government on Wednesday strongly rebuked social media platform X for its handling of the issue, accusing it of “abetting crime.”

This sharp criticism came during a virtual meeting convened by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which included officials from airlines and social media platforms X and Meta. The government’s frustration stems from Delhi Police’s inability to obtain information from X about the users behind several accounts posting bomb threats.

Over the past eight days, more than 90 flights—operated by Akasa, Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara from Delhi to various destinations—have received bomb threats. The Delhi Police have registered eight cases in connection with these incidents, and investigations have identified three X accounts—@adamlanza111, @psychotichuman, and @schizobomer777—as being involved in the threatening posts.

Despite X suspending the accounts, authorities have not been able to retrieve key user details, which the police believe may be concealed by the use of VPNs or dark web browsers. The first case was filed on October 16 after a bomb threat was posted on X, targeting an Akasa Air flight bound for Bengaluru.

The central government is now considering legislative actions to address the growing number of bomb threats, including placing those responsible on a no-fly list. A senior Delhi Police official emphasized the seriousness of the situation, pointing out that these threats are not just disruptive but also create a significant security risk.

Authorities have urged social media platforms to cooperate more effectively in providing timely information that could help prevent such incidents and hold those responsible accountable.

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