NEW DELHI: Five flights, including one bound for the United States, received bomb-threat messages through a social media handle on Tuesday, prompting security agencies to undertake specific counter-terrorist drills at various airports, official sources said. The threats via microblogging platform X came a day after three international flights originating from Mumbai received bomb threats, causing trouble to hundreds of passengers and airline crew. The messages posted on Monday were declared a hoax.

Two more flights received similar threats on Tuesday but a confirmation was awaited. The sources said an X handle issued threats on Tuesday to five flights — an Air India Express flight from Jaipur to Bengaluru via Ayodhya (IX765), a SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai (SG116), an Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago (AI 127) and an Indigo flight from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lucknow (6E 98).

An Air India Express spokesperson told PTI in a statement that they, along with a few other operators, received a “specific” security threat from an unverified social media handle. “In response, security protocols were promptly activated as directed by the government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. The flight landed safely, and the aircraft will be released for operations following all mandated security procedures,” the spokesperson said.

The SpiceJet aircraft landed safely at the Mumbai Airport and was directed to an isolation bay as a precautionary measure. “All passengers disembarked normally, and security agencies were immediately notified. After thorough security checks, the aircraft has been cleared for further operations,” a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

An Akasa Air spokesperson said their flight received a security alert on board. “The captain followed all required emergency procedures and landed safely at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru at 13:39 hours. All passengers were deplaned and the local authorities undertook the necessary safety and security checks after which the aircraft was released for operations,” the spokesperson said.

The Air India flight was diverted to the Iqaluit airport in Canada after it became the “subject of a security threat posted online”. “The aircraft and passengers are being re-screened according to the laid-down security protocol. Air India has activated agencies at the airport to assist the passengers until such time that their journey can resume,” an AI spokesperson said.

Indigo said in a statement that it was “cognisant of a situation involving flight 6E 98 from Dammam to Lucknow”. “The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines,” a spokesperson for the airline said.

The Dammam-Lucknow flight landed at the Jaipur airport following its diversion. The aircraft has been sent to an isolation bay, an official at the Jaipur airport said. The suspect X handle tagged the respective airline and some police handles, claiming that bombs were placed on these planes, the sources said.

Four different X handles issued a similar threat to three international flights originating from Mumbai on Monday. All the messages on Monday were declared a hoax after security and intelligence agencies as well as airline and airport operators carried out stipulated anti-terrorist security drills that are activated in case of bomb or hijack threats, the sources said.

Officials said the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has sought the help of Indian cyber-security agencies and police to trace the person or people behind these threats.

NEW DELHI: Thanks to its recent Rs 3,000-crore funding, SpiceJet has informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) it plans to have all its grounded planes back in the air within 18-24 months.
Ajay Singh’s airline has earmarked Rs 400 crore for spares, maintenance and engineering for this task. In the interim, it will also wet-lease some planes (hire planes with operating crew) to give a boost to capacity, this is what SpiceJet engineering informed the DGCA last Friday when the airline was called for their post-funding plans regarding operational fleet size.
The more comes at a time when the regulator is finalising the winter schedule of flights that will be effective from this month’s end. “The airline informed seven grounded aircraft will be flying again by the calendar year-end,” said sources.
Before it recently secured funding, more than half of SpiceJet’s fleet had been grounded. As on June 30, 2024, 36 of its 64 planes were grounded. And of the 28 airworthy planes, barely a few were flying. Clearly, the airline wants to change that quickly. After securing the funding, SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh told TOI the airline aims to have a fleet of 100 aircraft by the end of 2026.
On Tuesday, the airline announced it will have 10 more planes flying by Nov-end by leasing seven and ungrounding three. Agreements for these seven leased aircraft have been signed and they should be inducted by Nov 15. “Two of these leased aircraft have already arrived in India and are scheduled for immediate induction. SpiceJet will also operationalise its grounded planes in phases, with the first three set to re-enter service before the end of November,” the airline said in a statement.
“This fleet expansion follows SpiceJet’s successful qualified institutional placement (QIP) (for) Rs 3,000 crore…. In addition to the QIP, the airline is set to receive an additional Rs 736 crore from a previous funding round, further bolstering its financial stability and growth trajectory,” the airline said.
SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh said: “This addition is crucial as we continue to meet the growing demand for air travel while strengthening our operational capabilities. With the capital raised, SpiceJet is well-positioned to offer improved services and an expanded route network. We are committed to delivering seamless, reliable, and affordable travel, and we are excited about the future for both the airline and our passengers.”

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police‘s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) booked SpiceJet‘s managing director and four other officials for allegedly failing to credit the deducted 12 per cent of employees’ share in their Provident Fund (PF) account worth Rs 65 crore, as reported by news agency PTI citing officials.
“Managing director Ajay Singh and director Shiwani Singh, independent director Anurag Bhargava and two other officials Ajay Chhotelal Aggarwal and Manoj Kumar are responsible persons for the conduct of the business of the establishment as per Ownership Declaration Form 5A submitted to EPFO,” according to the FIR copy accessed by PTI.
All the officials were booked last month on September 16 under Section 409 (Criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC based on a complaint by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on September 16. The investigation is currently ongoing, as stated by an EOW officer.
The FIR states that at least 12 per cent of employees’ share of PF dues is payable to EPFO under Section 6 of the EPF and MP Act, 1952, and should be remitted to the respective PF accounts of employees/pension fund maintained by the EPFO.
It further mentions that the contribution of employees, amounting to Rs 65,70,62,540 from June 2024 to July 2024, has not been remitted for crediting in the accounts of the employees as Pension Fund contribution within the mandatory 15 days of the close of every month, which is in violation of the requirement of para 38 (1) of EPF scheme 1952 by the aforementioned persons.
It also said that the establishment representative admitted to having made the said deduction during quasi-judicial proceedings (7A inquiry) before the competent assessing officer – RPFC-I and that the employer has cheated the employees and misappropriated the fund, thus committing an offence under sections 316 and 318 of BNS.
However, a company spokesperson said that the complaint was filed before it raised fund via QIP and has cleared all dues after that.
“The case was filed before the company raised fresh funds through the Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP). Since then, the airline has cleared all pending salary and GST dues and made significant progress by depositing ten months of PF dues. The process of clearing the remaining dues is ongoing. Additionally, we have successfully reached settlements with multiple lessors. SpiceJet remains fully aligned with the financial and operational strategy outlined in the QIP” said the spokesperson in a statement.
The airline which has more than 10,000 people deducted 12 per cent of employees’ share of PF dues from their salaries (PF wages) during June 2022 to July 2024, which was to be remitted by August 15, 2024.