Union home secretary Govind Mohan convened a meeting with senior aviation security officials on Monday to address the recent spike in bomb hoax threats targeting various Indian airlines.

The alarming trend has prompted security agencies to react swiftly, resulting in multiple flight diversions and cancellations.

Nearly 100 flights have received bomb threats since October 14. As many as 30 flights in the Indian sector received threats on Sunday. Flyers and employees at several airports have faced disruptions as affected planes were moved to isolation bays for thorough security protocols.

Sources said Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) director-general Zulfiquar Hasan and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) director-general Rajwinder Singh Bhatti met the home secretary in his office at North Block.

“Both officers briefed the home secretary about the incidents of bomb threats and the steps being taken to check such incidents. The discussion mainly focussed on the possible implications for aviation security and the measures being taken to address the situation,” said a ministry official.

He added: “The recent hoax calls have triggered panic and forced extensive security checks by aviation authorities, intelligence agencies and other stakeholders associated with the aviation security in the country.”

The Mumbai police have taken a 17-year-old boy into custody for issuing threats to four flights, including three on international routes. A preliminary probe revealed that the teen wanted to frame one of his friends with whom he had a dispute over money. Over a dozen FIRs have been registered by the Mumbai police and their counterparts in Delhi in connection withthe threats.

Sources said the home ministry directed the civil aviation ministry, CISF, Bureau of Civil Aviation, National Investigation Agency and the Intelligence Bureau to submit a detailed report on the hoax calls.

“The probe is being monitored by the central intelligence agency to find out if it was a conspiracy to damage the reputation of the Indian aviation sector,” anofficial said.

A preliminary probe revealed that most of the social media accounts that issued the fake threats were found to be operating from outside India. “The accounts have been suspended. Cyber security agencies are also on alert and tracking social media accounts linked to these hoax threats,” the official added.

The BCAS lays down standards and measures in respect to the security of civil flights in India while remaining sensitive to the globally evolving aviation security scenario. The CISF is in charge of security at 68 airports in India.