Navi Mumbai Police Probe Hoax X Threat Of 911 Style Attacks On Indian Airlines
The Navi Mumbai Police have registered a non-cognizable offence after a hoax message on the social media platform X threatened a 9/11-style hijacking and crashing of multiple aircraft departing from Indian airports. The threat, which targeted flights operated by Air India, Air India Express, and Akasa Air, led to a police complaint being filed at the Navi Mumbai airport police station.
The hoax message was sent by an X handle using the name '911Truther.org'. It was directed at Nilesh Murudwar, the Chief Security Officer of Akasa Airlines. Following the receipt of the digital threat, Kiran Kumar Bevara, a 28-year-old duty manager for the Adani Group, approached the police to lodge a formal complaint.
The threat message, written in capital letters, claimed that a suicide operation would be carried out on June 29, 2026. It read: "OPERATION SUICIDE SPIRAL CIA PLOTTING JUNE 29.2026. MADE FOR TV INTER & SERVICES INTELLIGENCE (ISI) BACKED PAKISTANI AL-QAEDA BASED HIJACK 9/11 STYLE CRASH OF MULTIPLE AIR INDIA, AIR INDIA EXPRESSAND/OR AKASA AIRLINERS AFTER DEPARTING AIRPORTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA (ROI)."
According to police officials, the message claimed the operation would be orchestrated by "ISI-backed Pakistani al Qaeda."
Following Bevara's complaint, the police registered a non-cognizable offence against the unidentified operator of the X account. The case was filed under the relevant section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) that criminalises the circulation of false information, rumours, or reports via electronic or digital means with the intent to cause fear or alarm to the general public.
Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Belapur division, Mayur Bhujbal, explained the decision to register the case. He noted that although the threat did not explicitly name the Navi Mumbai International Airport as a starting point for the hijacked flights, the national security implications of a threat targeting all Indian airports warranted immediate police action.
This security scare comes immediately after two previous hoax bomb threat emails were received at the Navi Mumbai International Airport on June 24 and June 25. Police are continuing their investigation to trace the unidentified sender.
