Indian Airlines Under Siege: Over 70 Bomb Threats in 6 Days Force Disruptions

Indian airlines have faced a surge of bomb threats in recent days, leading to flight disruptions and financial losses. Over 70 threats have been reported in just six days, with the majority originating from overseas locations. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has met with airline CEOs to address the situation and enforce standard operating procedures for handling such threats.

Indian Airlines Under Siege: Over 70 Bomb Threats in 6 Days Force Disruptions

Officials from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) recently convened with CEOs of various airline operators at the Civil Aviation Ministry located in Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan. This meeting follows a surge in bomb threats targeting Indian airlines, with nearly 70 threats reported in under a week. In response, Vikram Dev Dutt, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has been transferred to the Ministry of Coal as Secretary, while a Joint Secretary-level official is expected to assume his former role soon.

On Saturday, BCAS briefed airline CEOs on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for addressing such threats, which have caused disruptions, including flight diversions and cancellations, resulting in financial losses and passenger distress. Reports indicate that around 30 bomb threats were issued to different flights on that same day.

Sources reveal that the IP addresses linked to the threats have been traced to locations in London, Germany, Canada, and the US, though it’s believed that some perpetrators may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to conceal their real locations. Both the DGCA and BCAS are expected to release updated guidelines soon.

Indian Airlines Under Siege: Over 70 Bomb Threats in 6 Days Force Disruptions One incident involved a bomb scare on a Mumbai-Colombo Vistara flight, which landed safely at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) after security measures were taken. On Saturday alone, five Vistara international flights and four IndiGo flights received bomb threats via social media, with other airlines like Air India, Air India Express, Akasa, SpiceJet, Star Air, and Alliance Air also affected.

In response to an alarming series of 70 bomb threats targeting Indian airline flights over six days, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the airlines on Saturday. The meeting took place at the Civil Aviation Ministry’s office in Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, where BCAS officials directed the CEOs to strictly follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for managing bomb threats. They emphasized the need to keep all stakeholders informed about the ongoing threats and the actions being taken in response, according to sources.

On Saturday alone, over 30 bomb threats were made against flights from various airlines. Investigations have traced some of the IP addresses involved in these threats to London, Germany, Canada, and the US. However, officials acknowledged that the use of VPNs (virtual private networks) could have been employed to mask the true locations of those issuing the threats.

The BCAS and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are expected to introduce new guidelines for airlines to handle bomb threats. This wave of hoax calls, which began earlier in the week, has led to numerous flight delays and diversions each day.

Indian Airlines Under Siege: Over 70 Bomb Threats in 6 Days Force Disruptions Vistara confirmed that five of its international flights received bomb threats on social media on Saturday, while four IndiGo flights were also impacted. Other airlines affected include Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, and Alliance Air.

Akasa Air, in a statement, acknowledged receiving security alerts for several of its flights on October 19, 2024. The airline explained that passengers had to deplane while local authorities conducted necessary security checks, and they requested passengers’ understanding as their team worked to minimize the inconvenience.