At least 30 domestic and international planes run by Indian airlines got bomb threats on October 21 night. IndiGo, Vistara, and Air India were among the airlines that flew these flights. The threats were taken seriously and security measures were put in place immediately, ANI report stated.
Of these, four of IndiGo flights affected were 6E 164 (Mangaluru to Mumbai), 6E 75 (Ahmedabad to Jeddah), 6E 67 (Hyderabad to Jeddah), and 6E 118 (Lucknow to Pune).
This flood of threats follows a troubling pattern in recent days. Within past 7 days, more than 120 planes operated by Indian airlines have received bomb threats. While the majority of these threats have come out to be hoaxes, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has stated that such warnings should not be taken lightly.
The government is currently planning legal steps to address the growing number of bomb threats against aircraft. According to reports, these measures include putting those responsible for such threats on a no-fly list. Additionally, modifications to the 1982 Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Civil Aviation Safety Act (SUASCA) are being proposed. These modifications would allow authorities to arrest and interrogate suspects without a court order if the aircraft was on the ground.
Minister Naidu stated that various meetings are being held to address the growing problem of hoax calls targeting the aviation industry. He said that they are thoroughly investigating this matter and will not jeopardise the safety of people at the airport. Their lives are of the utmost significance, he said, adding that the move to propose changes to airplane security laws aims to tighten checkpoint protocols and improve collaboration with appropriate authorities.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been advised on the situation, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation intends to include all parties in ongoing discussions to keep them updated on developments. The government is calling stakeholders to the ministry in order to make sure everyone is in the loop and prepared to carry out the appropriate changes, Minister Naidu said.
Among the measures being examined is the implementation of a new law to combat threats to aircraft and airports. The ministry plans to develop tight rules for dealing with similar occurrences, assuring a prompt and effective response. The government is also seeking to improve airport security, including heightened monitoring at security checks, the minister said.
The ministry will be enacting a law that will address these threats with the seriousness they deserve, added Naidu, emphasising that people who make hoax bomb threats will be barred from flying. The minister reassured the public that the government is dedicated to maintaining high security standards while ensuring seamless airline operations.
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