Teen, 17, detained by Mumbai police over bomb threats to multiple India airlines

A 17-year-old teenager has been arrested on Oct. 16 for allegedly posting bomb threat messages online, reported The Hindu.

Airlines in India, such as Air India and IndiGo, received a spate of bomb threats to both its domestic and international flights over the past weeks.

All were proven to be false alarms.

Financial motivations behind threat

The minor had allegedly posted the threats on social media platform X using an account that bore the handle of his friend whom he wanted to frame, reported NDTV.

The teen is responsible for threats targeting three flights, involving two IndiGo flights to Oman and Saudi Arabia, and one Air India flight to New York, reported the Economic Times.

Motivations appeared to be financially related.

Local police added that the two had been in a dispute over business matters involving money, reported The Hindu.

Minister "strongly condemns" such behaviour

The arrest comes just a day after a Singapore-bound Air India Express flight had received a bomb threat via email, causing two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) jets to be deployed. 

Acknowledging global concerns, India's Minister for Civil Aviation said in a Facebook post on Oct. 16 (Singapore time) that he was "deeply concerned" over the recent slate of events.

Assuring members of the public, the minister stated that they are "closely monitoring the situation" and "are committed [to] maintaining the highest security standards".

The minister wrote: "All others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted."

Top image from Air India/Facebook