New Delhi: In the past five years, Indian airlines have recorded an astounding 809 false bomb threats, with 719 of those occurrences taking place in 2024 alone, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This concern highlights the aviation industry’s increasing security dilemma, as revealed in a written response to the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol.
Analysis of Hoax Bomb Threats by Year
A notable increase can be seen in the breakdown of hoax bomb threats that airlines have received over the last five years:
2020: 4 threats
2021: 2 threats
2022: 13 threats
2023: 71 threats
2024: 719 threats (as of December 3)
This increase in 2024 relative to previous years highlights the growing misuse of digital media to spread these dangerous threats.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, or BCAS, has put in place extensive procedures to counter these threats. The Bomb Threat Contingency Plan (BTCP), which lays out specific reaction plans for airports, is one such project. Every airport has a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) as part of BTCP, which is in charge of assessing and reacting to threats.
All parties involved in the civil aviation industry have also received advice from BCAS, which urges them to bolster security protocols and avoid unauthorized interference with aviation operations.
Additionally, the government has taken the initiative to tackle the problem of false bomb warnings. Social media businesses received a harsh warning from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in October 2024, requiring them to remove false information immediately in accordance with the Information Technology Act. The alerts are a component of a larger initiative to stop the dissemination of fabricated information that poses a threat to public safety.
Minister Mohol also underlined that authorities are thinking of passing legislation to improve the reaction to fake threats in addition to the security measures put in place by the BCAS. This includes the potential to strengthen sanctions for people who make such threats by revising the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act.
The increasing prevalence of false bomb alerts is a significant barrier to India’s aviation security. As the government continues to tighten existing laws and impose new ones, stakeholders in the aviation and digital sectors are urged to cooperate in order to prevent these disruptions. The increasing number of dangers in 2024 indicates the need for ongoing innovation and attention to detail in security measures.
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(Reported by PTI)
