Hyderabad Airport Receives $1 Million Ransom Bomb Threat on US-Bound Flight: Second Incident in 48 Hours

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Hyderabad (Telangana):

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad was placed under heightened security protocols Tuesday morning following a bomb threat directed at a US-bound flight, marking the second such incident within a 48-hour timeframe.

Shortly thereafter, similar threatening emails reportedly reached Lok Bhavan (the recently renamed Governor's office) and the Chief Minister's Office, prompting authorities to extend security measures across key governmental institutions throughout the city.

The airport threat arrived via email from an individual identifying as "Jasper" from the United States, who claimed to have placed an explosive device aboard a specific US-bound flight. The communication included a $1 million ransom demand for the alleged explosive's deactivation.

In response, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and specialized airport security units immediately implemented comprehensive search protocols. These included thorough examinations of the terminal building, cargo facilities, parking zones, and all aircraft scheduled for international departures.

As a precautionary measure, passengers underwent enhanced security screenings, resulting in some departure delays.

By afternoon, authorities confirmed no suspicious objects had been discovered at the airport, though security measures remain significantly intensified across all sensitive areas.

Police have officially registered a case and launched an investigation. Cybercrime specialists are working to trace the email's origin and determine whether it represents a genuine terrorist threat or is part of a pattern of hoax communications.

This incident follows a troubling precedent from December 7, when the Hyderabad airport received three separate bomb threat emails targeting major international carriers: British Airways (BA 277) from Heathrow, Lufthansa (LH 752) from Frankfurt, and an IndiGo flight (6E 7178) from Kannur. All three threats were subsequently determined to be false.