In a concerning development on Thursday, November 23, Mumbai International Airport, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, found itself at the centre of a security threat. The airport received an ominous email warning of a potential blast at its Terminal 2 unless a ransom of USD 1 million in Bitcoin was paid within 48 hours. The sender, using the email address [email protected], delivered the threat to the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) feedback inbox around 11 am on the same day.
The subject line of the threatening email was straightforward: “Blast,” and the message outlined the demand for a substantial Bitcoin payment to avert the alleged explosion. The sender ominously stated, “This is a final warning to your airport. We will blast Terminal 2 within 48 hours unless one million dollars in Bitcoin is transferred to the address. Another alert will be after 24 Hrs.”
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Promptly responding to the threat, Sahar police registered a case against an unknown individual under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, specifically 385 (causing fear or alarm to the public for the purpose of extortion) and 505 (1) (b) (statements made with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public for the purpose of extortion).
An extensive investigation has been launched to trace the origin of the threatening email and identify the responsible party behind the extortion attempt.
This incident follows a similar security scare in October of this year when an Akasa Air flight travelling from Pune to Delhi was diverted to Mumbai due to an emergency landing. A passenger onboard had falsely claimed the presence of a bomb in his luggage. Subsequent investigations revealed that the passenger, who complained of chest pain, had been carrying medication for the ailment. The individual responsible for the false alarm was detained by the police, with their identity remaining undisclosed in the preliminary reports.
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges faced by aviation authorities in ensuring the safety and security of air travel, with comprehensive measures in place to address and mitigate potential threats.
