Indian airlines have been targeted with continuous fake bomb threats, leading to route changes, flight delays, and even cancellations. Recently, it was revealed that 70% of these hoaxes originated from a single Twitter handle, Adam Lanza, with messages echoing a chilling sameness—no one will be left alive. The plane should be evacuated quickly. This Twitter account has been suspended, but the name resonates chillingly from a 2012 massacre in an American elementary school.
In December 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza perpetrated a horrifying event at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, USA. Storming the school, he went on a rampage, taking the lives of 20 children aged 6 to 8, along with 6 adults. This tragedy marked one of the most terrifying incidents in American schools' history.
The dreadful day began with the sun on December 14. Adam first shot his mother, Nancy Lanza, then drove her car to the elementary school he had no personal ties to, except for its proximity to his home.
By around 9:30 in the morning, armed with a semi-automatic rifle and two pistols, Adam entered the school, wearing a military vest. According to CNN, he began firing immediately. Efforts by school staff to protect the children saw many hiding behind cabinets or in bathrooms, but few survived. By the time police arrived, Adam had taken his own life.
Source: aajtak
This event sparked a major debate in America on issues like gun control and the paramount importance of recognizing and treating mental health issues. Adam had been grappling with multiple mental challenges for years, including autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression. Investigations later revealed that his mother was overly protective and had pulled him out of school, leaving him homebound for years.
Struggling with mental issues, Adam used his mother’s gun. How and why he acquired the other weapons, and what drove him to target his mother and the school, remain unsolved mysteries. This incident became a talking point in court cases examining mass murders from 1786 to 2012.
The FBI disclosed several documents, including an interview with a woman who realized the extent of Adam’s violent inclinations during brief online interactions. Current threats to airlines under his name are a stark reminder of the past, sparking ongoing investigations with the offending account suspended.
Source: aajtak
Receiving threatening calls is not new to the aviation industry. Previously, in June, about 40 airports were targeted with similar hoaxes in a single day. According to a BBC report, from 2014 to 2017, there were 120 such threats, with half aimed at bustling airports like Delhi and Mumbai.
What is the Impact?
The country witnesses over three thousand flights operating daily across more than 150 operational airports, including 33 international ones. According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, nearly 150 million domestic passengers traveled last year. This substantial figure also reflects the widespread impact. As festivals approach, travel spikes for personal and business reasons, and threatening calls or messages cannot be taken lightly.
Each threat prompts intense search operations, affecting not just a single flight but entire schedules. Flights may be canceled, requiring refunds or accommodations for passengers, which incurs significant costs. Repeated threats to specific airlines can tarnish their image, causing long-lasting impacts.
