In October 2024, the Indian aviation sector faced an unprecedented wave of bomb threat hoaxes, severely impacting major airlines and prompting a re-evaluation of security measures. Over 100 fights received threats. Over 500 flights were impacted.
The Surge of Threats
In a span of 16 days, Indian airlines encountered a barrage of over 510 bomb threats, leading to severe disruptions. Such a massive scale of threats in October 2024 left airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara struggling. Unverified threats circulated mainly through social media platforms, causing significant alarm among travelers. Despite being hoaxes, these threats necessitated stringent security protocols to ensure passenger safety.
The Indian government responded promptly, urging social media platforms to manage and control the dissemination of misinformation effectively. The situation has stimulated critical discussions about the responsibilities of digital platforms in curbing such fictitious threats.
A wave of bomb threats has caused significant disruption in India this week, resulting in flight delays and the diversion of two Air India flights.https://t.co/6MN87l2sJc#India #aviation #AirIndia #BombThreat #AvGeek pic.twitter.com/n0CxHkt8Hm
— AviationSource (@AvSourceNews) October 16, 2024
Stringent Security Protocols
Airlines followed all mandated security measures, informing appropriate authorities and adhering to guidelines provided by regulatory bodies. This action was confirmed by an airline spokesperson, stating, “Following the laid down protocols, relevant authorities were immediately alerted, and all security procedures strictly adhered to, as per guidance from the regulatory authorities.”
Given the severity of the threats, Mumbai police filed a case against unknown individuals, and 14 FIRs were registered in response to incidents. The government’s proactive stance highlights the seriousness with which it approaches aviation security and the imperative to prevent further disturbances.
In a bizarre turn of events, India has been facing a wave of hoax #BombThreats, disrupting around 100 flights last week and 24 flights on Sunday alone!
However, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is stepping up to restore confidence in flying!👇#Aviationhttps://t.co/AXKuuXXJUt pic.twitter.com/ezAT5dAvz7
— Business Insider India🇮🇳 (@BiIndia) October 21, 2024
Legislative Considerations
The Indian government has begun deliberations over legislative responses to the crisis. The Civil Aviation Ministry is weighing options for imposing travel bans on those found guilty of making false threats.
As Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu noted, banning perpetrators from flying could serve as a strong deterrent.
The introduction of harsh penalties underscores the need to safeguard aviation operations. Meanwhile, airlines continue to work alongside government agencies to fortify security policies and ensure all necessary steps are in place to counteract such threats effectively.
Sources:
https://www.ndtvprofit.com/nation/over-100-flights-get-bomb-threats-on-tuesday
