Bomb Threat Hoaxes Cause Trouble for Indian Air Travel

Bomb Threat Hoaxes Cause Trouble for Indian Air Travel

Indian flights face chaos as over 100 bomb threat hoaxes disrupt flights in a single week.

At a Glance

  • Nearly 100 hoax bomb threats disrupted Indian aviation in one week.
  • Threats led to a number of evacuations and emergency actions.
  • Authorities have struggled to identify culprits, with one minor arrested.
  • The government plans to increase air marshals and explore harsher penalties.
  • Passengers faced frustration and anxiety due to delays and lack of information.

Wave of Hoax Threats Paralyzes Indian Aviation

Indian aviation has been thrown into turmoil as a series of hoax bomb threats disrupted flights across the country. In just one week, nearly 100 threats were reported, causing diversions, landings, and evacuations. The scale of the disruption reached a peak on a single Saturday when at least 30 threats were received, followed by another dozen the next day.

Major airports like Mumbai and New Delhi were significantly impacted, with smaller airports such as Karnataka’s Belagavi also targeted. The situation has caused significant delays and operational challenges during the festive travel season, affecting both domestic and international flights.

High-Profile Incidents and Passenger Impact

Several high-profile incidents highlighted the severity of the situation. A Vistara flight to Frankfurt had to return to Delhi after being denied permission to fly through Afghanistan due to a bomb threat. In another case, an Air India flight from Mumbai to New York was rerouted to Delhi, evacuated, and searched, incurring significant costs.

Passengers bore the brunt of these disruptions, experiencing frustration and anxiety due to lack of information and being stranded. One passenger, Harit Sachdeva, described the ordeal: “We have been stuck at the airport since 5am with 200 passengers… We have no idea what’s happening or what we are supposed to do next… We are completely stranded.”

Authorities Struggle to Identify Culprits

Investigations by Indian police and security agencies have made little progress in identifying the sources of these threats. Suspects are believed to be using VPNs or the dark web to mask their identities. However, one minor has been arrested for issuing three hoax threats from a fake account.

“Given the number of threats, this could be part of a larger conspiracy to flood the industry with such messages so that one becomes lax. But we take every threat seriously,” an unidentified official said.

The nature of these threats differs from previous hoaxes, suggesting a potential larger conspiracy. Authorities are trying to identify patterns in the threats, with the civil aviation minister promising action against those responsible.

Government Response and Future Measures

The Indian government is taking steps to address the situation. The federal government plans to increase the number of air marshals and explore harsher penalties for hoax threats. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has met with airline CEOs to review procedures and assure passengers of safety.

Current Indian aviation laws lack specific rules for handling bomb threats from social media, presenting a challenge for authorities. The government is considering new laws and the possibility of a no-fly list for offenders. These measures are crucial as India is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets with significant passenger traffic.

As the situation continues to unfold, the aviation industry, passengers, and authorities remain on high alert. The recent wave of hoax threats has exposed vulnerabilities in the system and highlighted the need for more robust security measures in the face of evolving threats.

Sources

  1. How hoax bomb threats are hurting air travel in India
  2. What’s behind bomb threats that have disrupted 100 flights in India?
  3. 20+ flights hit on 6th straight day of bomb hoax threats