Several hoax messages targeting Indian airlines, particularly on X and through emails sent via Hotmail, have come under the scrutiny of the Mumbai Crime Branch. Officials have reached out to X and Hotmail to obtain details of certain social media handles and email addresses. However, initial information has been of little use, as those responsible for these threats have been using highly secure Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), making it difficult to trace the origins of the accounts. Experts claim that the accused can be arrested only through the collaboration of social media platforms, enforcement agencies and international partners such as VPN providers.

According to sources, multiple FIRs have been registered at the Sahar and Airport police stations, as both domestic and international airlines have received threats. Individuals familiar with the investigation revealed that the IP addresses linked to the social media handles involved are being examined. “The criminals have used multiple layers of security and the IP addresses associated with these X handles are fluctuating between the USA, UK, and Austria,” said one source.