Indian airlines hit by nearly 1,000 hoax bomb threats

In the month of October, Indian airlines faced a significant challenge due to a surge in hoax bomb threats that disrupted flight services across the country. According to Mr. Murlidhar Mohol, the deputy civil aviation minister, there were a staggering 999 hoax bomb threats reported as of November 14 this year. This figure represents nearly ten times the number of threats received in the previous year. Alarmingly, more than 500 of these threats occurred in just the last two weeks of October. The increase in hoax threats has caused major disruptions in flight schedules, leading to delays and diversions of numerous flights. Mr. Mohol emphasized that all the recent threats were hoaxes, stating, 'no actual threat detected at any of the airports or aircraft in India. ' In response to these incidents, police have registered 256 complaints and arrested 12 individuals in connection with the hoax threats. This unprecedented rise in such threats is concerning, especially when compared to the period between 2014 and 2017, during which authorities recorded only 120 bomb hoax alerts at airports, with nearly half of those directed at Delhi and Mumbai, the largest airports in the country. The flurry of hoax threats in October not only delayed several flights but also forced some to be diverted to different airports. Additionally, hoax threats against international flights prompted the involvement of international agencies. For instance, in October, Singapore's Air Force dispatched two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express plane that was facing a bomb threat. Another incident involved an Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago, which was compelled to land at a remote airport in Canada due to a bomb threat. Passengers on that flight were subsequently airlifted to Chicago by an Air Force plane arranged by Canadian officials. In light of these events, India's civil aviation ministry stated that it was making 'every possible effort' to ensure the safety of flight operations. To address bomb threats, India's airports have established a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee that evaluates the severity of the threat and determines the appropriate course of action. When a threat is identified, it may lead to the involvement of bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs, ambulances, police, and medical personnel. Passengers, along with their cabin baggage, check-in baggage, and cargo, are off-loaded from the aircraft and subjected to thorough screening. Engineering and security teams also conduct a comprehensive search of the plane before it is cleared for takeoff again. The resulting delays from these procedures can lead to significant financial losses for airlines and security agencies. According to the civil aviation ministry, more than 150 million passengers traveled domestically in India last year. The country boasts over 150 operational airports, including 33 international airports, with more than 3,000 flights arriving and departing daily.