In a startling incident, a 13-year-old boy was apprehended for sending a hoax bomb threat email targeting a flight from Delhi to Toronto on June 4. The email triggered an extensive security operation at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, leading to the evacuation of an aircraft carrying 301 passengers and 16 crew members.
The plane was directed to an isolation bay for thorough security checks, which ultimately revealed the threat to be baseless. The incident began with a seemingly innocent, albeit misguided, curiosity on the part of the teenager. According to police reports, the boy admitted to crafting the hoax email after reading about a similar bomb scare at Mumbai airport. His objective was to see if law enforcement could trace the email back to him, believing his actions would remain anonymous. The boy used a fake email ID, created on his mobile phone, and sent the email using his mother’s mobile internet connection before promptly deleting the email account.
A dedicated investigative team, spearheaded by the station house officer of IGI Airport police station, was mobilised to address the threat. Despite initial challenges in tracing the source of the email, persistent technical efforts led the team to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. There, the boy was apprehended and confessed to his actions during interrogation. Police seized two mobile phones connected to the hoax email’s transmission as part of their investigation.
Following his confession, the boy was presented before the juvenile justice board and subsequently released to the custody of his parents in accordance with the board’s directives. Delhi Police have issued a stern warning against such hoax calls and emails, emphasising the severe repercussions, including potential imprisonment, that such actions can entail. This incident follows a series of similar disruptions at IGI Airport. Earlier this month, a woman’s false claim that her husband was carrying a bomb on an incoming flight from Varanasi prompted another security scare. In a separate incident on May 28, a note indicating a bomb blast was discovered in an aircraft lavatory, causing panic and the evacuation of 176 passengers through emergency exits.
These episodes underscore the significant disruptions and safety risks posed by false threats. The Delhi Police and airport authorities have reiterated the gravity of making hoax threats, highlighting the extensive resources and measures deployed to ensure passenger safety. They urge the public to understand the serious consequences of such actions, which extend far beyond momentary amusement. As airports and security agencies continue to grapple with the implications of these incidents, the need for heightened public awareness and responsibility becomes increasingly evident The enforcement of strict measures and legal consequences serves as a deterrent against such reckless behaviour, ensuring the safety and security of all travellers.
