The government has urgently asked social media giants Meta and X (formerly Twitter) to provide data on recent bomb threats targeting airlines, as more than 80 flights received such threats on Thursday alone.

Authorities have begun to identify the sources of these threats, with investigations revealing that more than 250 Indian-operated flights received bomb threats in the past 11 days, many of which were issued via social media, a reported the PTI.

According to high-level government sources, reported by PTI, several of the individuals responsible for these fraudulent calls have been traced and necessary action is underway. However, authorities have refrained from disclosing specific details about the origin of these messages or the identities of those involved.

In a move aimed at strengthening aviation security, the government has ordered platforms like Meta and X to share critical information about users responsible for posting or spreading hoax bomb threat messages targeting airlines . Officials stressed that this cooperation is crucial for public safety, emphasizing that “social media companies are supposed to cooperate because it involves the public good.”

The recent surge in bomb scares has affected more than 80 domestic and international flights, including popular airlines such as Air India, Vistara and IndiGo. Specifically, around 20 flights of Air India, Vistara and IndiGo, as well as 13 flights of Akasa Air, received threats. Additional reports indicate that around 5 flights each of SpiceJet and Alliance Air were also affected.

IndiGo released a statement confirming it received security alerts for 20 flights, while Akasa Air reported similar alerts on 13 flights. “Our airport services teams have coordinated with local authorities to manage the situation, ensuring the safe disembarkation of passengers and providing necessary assistance and refreshments,” an Akasa Air spokesperson said.

A Vistara spokesperson also confirmed that several of its flights had received security threats via social media, triggering coordinated responses with airport security teams.

In a particularly alarming incident, Kochi Airport reported that at least six flights received bomb threats on Thursday, including a SpiceJet flight from Dubai.

To further complicate the situation, an anonymous caller on Wednesday raised a bomb threat targeting the Dumna airport in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, which was later confirmed to be a hoax. As bomb threats against airlines intensify, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced plans for legislative measures, including placing those making threats on a list of flight ban, with the aim of ensuring the safety of passengers in Indian skies.