In a week marked by unprecedented security concerns, Indian airlines have faced over 70 bomb threats within a span of six days, forcing several flights to be delayed, diverted, or cancelled. On Saturday, October 19, 2024, the issue culminated in a high-level meeting between the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of major airlines at the Civil Aviation Ministry in New Delhi. During this meeting, held at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, aviation authorities discussed strategies to mitigate the disruptions caused by these threats and urged airlines to follow strict safety protocols.
Aviation Authorities Tighten Security Protocols
The meeting with airline CEOs was part of the Indian government’s effort to address the growing number of bomb threats, which have significantly inconvenienced passengers and caused financial losses to airlines. Authorities emphasised the need to adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when dealing with security threats, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders, including aviation regulators and local authorities, are kept informed of the situation and the actions being taken.
Over 30 bomb threats were made against flights operated by various airlines on Saturday, October 19, 2024, reflecting the severity of the situation. Preliminary investigations by law enforcement have revealed that many of the threats originated from IP addresses traced to London, Germany, Canada, and the United States. However, authorities have not ruled out the possibility that VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) were used to mask the actual locations of those making the threats.
New Guidelines and Investigations
In response to the wave of hoax threats, both the BCAS and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are expected to release new guidelines to assist airlines in dealing with bomb threats more effectively. The recent surge of threats, primarily made through social media platforms, has disrupted operations and caused significant inconvenience to passengers.
Airlines such as Vistara, IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, and Alliance Air have all received bomb threats in recent days. Akasa Air, in a statement on Saturday, acknowledged that “some of our flights operating on October 19, 2024, have received security alerts.” As a result, passengers were deplaned while local authorities followed safety procedures, and the airline apologised for the inconvenience caused.
Hoax Calls and Security Alerts
The recent wave of bomb threats began on Monday, October 14, 2024, and has continued each day since. In a notable incident, a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody by Mumbai Police on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, for issuing threats to four flights, including three on international routes. Officials revealed that the teenager’s motivation was to frame a friend over a personal dispute regarding money.
In response to the threats, Mumbai Police and Delhi Police have registered multiple First Information Reports (FIRs), and investigations are ongoing to identify the individuals behind the threats.
Government Response and Future Steps
In a statement on Thursday, October 17, 2024, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that initial investigations did not suggest a conspiracy, noting that many of the threats appeared to have been made by minors or pranksters. “We can’t comment on a conspiracy, but whatever little we have known, it is coming from minors or some pranksters,” he explained, adding that the government is working on measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Minister Naidu also assured the public that the civil aviation ministry is collaborating closely with airlines and security agencies to create stricter barriers against hoax threats, ensuring that future attempts to disrupt flight operations through false threats are minimised.
Conclusion
The sharp rise in bomb threats targeting Indian airlines has created significant operational challenges and heightened security concerns across the country. As authorities continue to investigate the origins of these threats and work to prevent further disruptions, airlines and passengers alike are urged to remain vigilant. The BCAS and DGCA are expected to issue new guidelines shortly, aimed at ensuring that aviation security remains robust in the face of these unprecedented threats.
