Aviation Safety Body Meets Airline CEOs After 70 Bomb Threats in Six Days
Amid an alarming surge in bomb threats targeting Indian airlines, with 70 threats reported over six days, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) convened a meeting with airline CEOs in New Delhi on Saturday.
The meeting, held at the civil aviation ministry’s office in Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, aimed to address growing safety concerns and ensure that airlines adhere to the standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling such threats.
Airlines Urged to Strengthen Security Protocols
During the meeting, BCAS officials urged airline executives to strictly follow established protocols to manage bomb threats efficiently, which have caused significant inconvenience to passengers and financial losses for airlines. Airlines were also advised to keep all relevant stakeholders updated on the status of each threat and the actions being taken.
Investigation Points to International Origins
According to officials, investigations have revealed that some of the IP addresses linked to the recent threats originated from locations in London, Germany, Canada, and the US. However, the possibility of the culprits using VPNs to conceal their actual locations has not been ruled out.
The aviation authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), are expected to issue updated guidelines to help airlines manage such threats more effectively.
Hoax Bomb Threats Disrupt Operations
The wave of threats began on Monday and has persisted daily, causing numerous flights to be delayed or diverted. On Saturday alone, over 30 bomb threats were reported, impacting several airlines. Vistara reported security threats on five of its international flights, while IndiGo experienced alerts on at least four of its flights. Other affected airlines included Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, and Alliance Air.
As investigations continue, aviation authorities are working to mitigate the impact of these hoax threats and ensure the safety of passengers and flight operations across the country.
