A series of hoax bomb threats to flights from Indian airports have caused hours of aviation disruption in the last week.
Though bomb threats are not unheard of in India, the recent surge has seen at least 19 flights subjected to claims of bombs on board in just a matter of days, including three from Mumbai on Monday, and another seven on Tuesday.
Father and son arrested
The threats, often issued using the social media platform X and tagging the airline and police, have led to the arrest, according to Business Standard, of a teenager, his father, and another individual from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, said to be associated with one of the user handles concerned. Despite that, the threats continued through the week. India’s defence minister told media that other threats had been made by email, while the country’s civil aviation minister, said “every possible effort” to safeguard flight operations was underway.
“We are committed to maintaining the highest security standards and passenger safety remains our priority,” Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said in a statement on X.
Strongly condemn the recent bomb threats to Indian air carriers. We are closely monitoring the situation and ensuring that every necessary measures are taken against such actions. We are Committed in maintaining the highest security standards and passenger safety remains our… pic.twitter.com/9r4UKELGls
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) October 16, 2024
Off-loading and re-screening
In the immediate wake of the threats and the fear of a violent incident, passengers experience severe delays. A Bomb Threat Assessment Committee scrutinises the threat and decides on a course of action that can entail activating bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs, ambulances, police and doctors.
Protocols usually see passengers off-loaded from the aircraft, along with all cabin and check-in baggage and cargo. Everything and everyone is screened again while engineering and security teams investigate the plane and clear it for take-off again.
IndiGo flight 6E 56 operating from Mumbai to Jeddah received a bomb threat. As per protocol, the aircraft was taken to an isolated bay, and following the standard operating procedures, mandatory security checks were promptly initiated: Indigo Spokesperson https://t.co/okfUhrdQ63
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024
Fighter jet escorts
Planes that were already in the air when threats became known have caused military escorts to be scrambled to accompany them as they are diverted away from built-up areas to land quickly at selected airports. This occurred on Tuesday 15 October, when an Air India Express flight from Madurai had to be escorted to Changi, Singapore by two of the city state’s fighter jets.
#WATCH | “Air India Express, along with a few other operators, received a specific security threat from an unverified social media handle. In response, security protocols were promptly activated as directed by the Government-appointed Bomb Threat Assessment Committee. The flight… pic.twitter.com/ETTU5tRh1r
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2024
Again the following day, another Air India flight, this time to Chicago, was forced to make a precautionary landing at Iqaluit airport in Canada. The Canadian Air Force was brought in to fly passengers on to Chicago as a and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is said to be investigating the threat.
Air India is not the only airline to be targeted by the hoaxes. IndiGo and SpiceJet flights have also been affected in the wave which is estimated to be costing thousands in delays and security resources – costs that the flag carrier has said it would consider recovering through legal action.