Surge in Hoax Bomb Threats Disrupts Indian Airlines

A dramatic increase in hoax bomb threats, totaling 999, has caused massive disruption within India's aviation sector, with substantial consequences for flight schedules and international safety protocols.

Indian airlines and airports have been grappling with an alarming influx of nearly 1,000 hoax bomb threats reported this year, as revealed by the deputy civil aviation minister, Murlidhar Mohol, on November 14. This number marks a staggering tenfold increase compared to the incidents recorded in prior years, with over half of the threats emerging in just the last fortnight of October.

All recent threats have been confirmed as hoaxes, with no genuine dangers discovered at any Indian airports or aboard aircraft, according to Mohol. In response, law enforcement has filed 256 complaints, leading to 12 arrests associated with these false alarms.

Historically, between 2014 and 2017, authorities documented only 120 bomb hoax alerts, predominantly targeting Delhi and Mumbai, yet the recent months illustrate a notable escalation in such incidents. This spike in threats has resulted in delayed flights and diversions, impacting both domestic and international travelers.

For instance, in October, Singapore's Air Force had to mobilize two fighter jets to escort an Air India Express aircraft due to a bomb threat, while another Air India flight en route from New Delhi to Chicago found itself rerouted to a remote Canadian airport where passengers were eventually airlifted to their destination.

In light of these escalating threats, India's civil aviation ministry has pledged to enhance flight safety measures. The country has established a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee that proactively evaluates potential threats and determines necessary actions. These actions often necessitate involving bomb disposal teams, sniffer dogs, and extensive airport security protocols, including the thorough screening of all passengers and baggage which can foster delays costing airlines thousands of dollars. Last year alone, over 150 million travelers utilized India's domestic air services amidst the operations of more than 3,000 flights daily from 150 airports, including 33 international hubs.