Vistara Delhi-London flight diverted to Frankfurt after bomb threat: Here’s how much the hoax costs airlines

There seems to be no end to the hoax bomb threats to Indian air carriers through social media, as a Delhi to London flight operated by Vistara has become the latest to receive one. The London-bound flight was diverted to Frankfurt on Friday following a bomb threat for mandatory checks.


According to a Vistara spokesperson, the flight will continue to its destination once cleared by the security agencies.


"Vistara flight UK17 operating from Delhi to London on 18 October 2024 received a security threat on social media. In line with the protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed and, as a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Frankfurt," the spokesperson said.


Vistara was the second airline to receive a bomb threat through social media on Friday. Akasa Air QP 1366, scheduled to fly from Bengaluru to Mumbai on Friday, received a security alert shortly before departure, following which all passengers had to be deplaned as per safety and security procedures.



This week alone, around 40 flights operated by Air India, Vistara, IndiGo, Akasa Air and SpiceJet, including some flying to international destinations, have received hoax bomb threats through social media.

While nothing suspicious has been found on any of the aircraft, the confusion is affecting the airlines and disrupting operations at airports where they are forced to land.


The diversion, deplaning, and security re-checks are a nightmare for the airlines as they bleed money throughout the process. The additional fuel, catering, and airport charges cost the airline around Rs 12 lakhs per hour, and the longer it takes to resume operations, the more they end up paying. Some estimates say that the airline could shell out as much as Rs 50 lakhs extra for every such diversion.



Airlines will also have to bear the cost of accommodation for all passengers and crew if there is a lengthy delay. In addition to this, especially on international routes, the airline will have to assign a new crew if the ones on the flight exceed their work hours, causing further delays in operations.


The disruptions can also affect flight schedules, especially those of budget domestic carriers that have a shorter turnaround time between two flights. This can also cause inconvenience to flyers, in particular those who have connection flights or are travelling due to an emergency.

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