インド航空各社に爆破予告 今月９０件以上

【ニューデリーＡＦＰ＝時事】インドの複数の航空会社が今月に入り、これまでに９０件以上の偽の爆破予告を受けたと現地メディアが２０日に報じた。（写真は資料写真）
　すべてのフライトは無事運航を終えたが、一連の脅迫によりカナダやドイツへの迂回が発生。英国やシンガポール上空では戦闘機が旅客機を護衛する事態となった。
　インド政府と民間航空当局は「極めて厳格な措置」を講じると警告している。
　 現地主要紙タイムズ・オブ・インディアなどによると、今月１３日以降、国内外のフライトに対し、７０件以上の悪質な脅迫があった。１９日だけで少なくとも３０件、２０日にはさらに２０件以上の脅迫が異なる航空会社に対して行われた。
　インドで少なくとも１人の未成年者が逮捕されたが、脅迫は続いている。
　インディアン・エクスプレス紙によると、Ｘ（旧ツイッター）の匿名のアカウントに１９日と２０日、少なくとも４０便に対する爆破予告が投稿された。その後、このアカウントは停止されたという。この脅迫の相手には、インド以外に米国やニュージーランドの航空会社も含まれていた。
　同紙によると、投稿はどれも同じ文面で「機内に爆弾が仕掛けられている。誰も生きて出ることはできない。急いで避難しろ」というものだった。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/10/21-17:57）

More than 90 fake bomb threats have been made against flights operated by multiple Indian airlines this week, Indian media reported Sunday, sparking fear among passengers and global delays.
All flights landed safely, but the spate of threats has resulted in planes being diverted to Canada and Germany, and fighter jets scrambled to escort aircraft in the skies above Britain and Singapore.
India's government and civil aviation authorities have warned that very strict action will be taken.
New Delhi's civil aviation authorities have not said how many threats have been received in the past week, but the Times of India and broadcaster News18 reported more than 70 hoaxes targeting both domestic and international flights since October 13.
At least 30 hoax threats were made on Saturday alone, and at least 20 more threats were made to different airlines on Sunday.
India's IndiGo airline confirmed threats were made against six of its flights on Sunday.
Two were on domestic routes, and four were international -- linking Indian cities to Saudia Arabia's Jeddah and Dammam, as well as two separate flights to Istanbul in Turkey.
The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority, IndiGo said in a statement.
We are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions.
The global impact of delays and diversions has been heavy on airline schedules and costs.
At least one person -- a minor -- has been arrested in India, but the threats have continued.
All others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted, India's aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said after the arrest on Wednesday.
A report in The Indian Express said that an anonymous account on X, formerly Twitter, was suspended after posting bomb threats to at least 40 flights on Friday and Saturday.
This included both Indian and international airlines, including from the United States and New Zealand.
There are bombs placed onboard... No one will make out alive. Hurry up and evacuate the plane, read the identical messages from the suspended account, the newspaper reported.
Among the recent flights impacted was an Air India plane heading from Mumbai to New York, with US security officials sweeping the aircraft after its safe landing on Saturday.
Other flights that were impacted include an Air India plane from New Delhi to Chicago, which was forced to make an emergency landing in the far northern Canadian city of Iqaluit on Tuesday.
Canada's airforce had to fly the passengers onward.
The same day, Singapore scrambled fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane.
On Thursday, British RAF fighter jets escorted an Air India Boeing 777-300 after a threat was made against the plane, which landed safely in London.