IndiGo and SpiceJet are also among the affected airlines.
Hoax bomb threats against airlines are not unusual in India, but it is unclear what has caused the sudden surge since Monday.
On Wednesday, India’s civil aviation minister said the ministry was closely monitoring the situation and was making “every possible effort” to ensure flight safety.
“We are committed to maintaining the highest safety standards and passenger safety remains our priority,” Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapp said in a statement on X.
News agency ANI quoted a senior home ministry official as saying that more security personnel would be deployed on “sensitive routes”, but there was no official confirmation from the government.
Representatives of the government’s Directorate-General for Civil Aviation and the Civil Aviation Safety Bureau did not respond to emails from the BBC seeking comment.
On Monday, three international flights departing from Mumbai were diverted or delayed after X (formerly Twitter) posted threats. In connection with this, the police detained the teenager.
On Tuesday, seven flights, including two Air India planes, were hit by threats from another X-handle, which is now suspended. Screenshots of some of the posts show that the user tagged the airline and local police and provided the flight number.
Air India reported in a statement, external that it is working with authorities to identify the people behind the threats and will consider legal action to recover damages.
Every Indian airport has an Explosive Threat Assessment Committee which assesses the severity of the threat and takes appropriate action. A threat can lead to the involvement of explosive devices, service dogs, ambulances, police and doctors.
Passengers are disembarked from the aircraft along with their carry-on baggage, checked baggage and cargo, and all are checked again. Engineering and security services also search the plane before it is allowed to fly again.
The resulting delay can cost airlines and security agencies thousands of dollars in damages.
For flights bound for other countries, this may also involve international agencies such as those in Singapore and Canada.
Singapore’s defense minister said on Tuesday that the city-state’s two fighter jets “raised and escorted” the Air India Express plane away from populated areas before it landed safely at Changi Airport. The plane was flying from Madurai, India to Singapore.
“After landing, the plane was handed over to the airport police. The investigation is ongoing,” wrote Ng Eng Heng.
The plane later landed safely in Changi.
In Canada – where an Air India flight to Chicago landed at Iqaluit Airport as a precaution – the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said, external this is a threat investigation.
Air India said on Wednesday that a Canadian Air Force plane was carrying passengers to Chicago. It is not yet clear when the Air India plane will be allowed to take off.
Follow BBC News India Instagram, external, YouTube, external, Twitter, externaland Facebook, external.
