6 days, 70 alerts: How airlines manage bomb threats

Updated: Oct 21st, 2024

Airlines tackle bomb threat

After an alarming series of 70 bomb threats targeting flights operated by Indian airlines within just six days, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with the airline’s Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in New Delhi on Saturday.

During the meeting, officials of the BCAS directed the CEOs to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP) for addressing the bomb threats.

More than 30 bomb threats were made against flights operated by various airlines on Saturday alone.

The recent wave of hoax calls and threats, which began on October 14, has persisted daily, leading to numerous flight diversions and delays.

Protocols following a bomb threat

More than 20 teams are deployed to tackle such bomb-threat situations. These teams commence their operations under various protocols equivalent to those on a war footing.

Primarily, the airlines subjected to a bomb threat inform the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Thereafter, the threat message is scrutinised by the ‘Bomb Threat Assessment Committee’ present at all the airports in the country, which verifies the credibility of the threat.

The committee includes the airport operator, CISF, and BCAS, which analyses the origin of the message, its channel, and its timing. After this, the committee designates the threat as ‘specified’ and ‘non-specified’ according to these facts.

If the threat is deemed to be ‘specified’, the flight is taken to an isolated area of the airport. If the danger surfaces after the flight is airborne, the pilot contacts the air traffic control (ATC) tower of a nearby airport, where the flight is grounded under the presence of the fire department, bomb disposal squad, and sniffer dogs.

The entire aircraft is inspected after deboarding all the passengers.

The bomb disposal squad of the local police department or the CISF personnel conducts a probe through bomb detection dogs and X-ray machines, among other advanced equipment.

Baggage and cargo in the luggage hold are also thoroughly scanned for hours.

Takeoff permission is only granted after concluding the inspection protocols and designating the aircraft safely.

Passenger protocols after a bomb threat

Distressed passengers are transferred and accommodated on an alternate flight during the inspection process. Passengers are also accommodated into hotels if the flight inspection is prolonged.

During the inspection, the passengers are denied access to their check-in luggage. However, they are arranged for any medical or specific food requirements.

The passenger cannot claim a refund for such incidents as they are considered beyond the control of the airlines.

Stricter enforcement and laws

Investigation into these bomb threats has revealed that some of the IP addresses linked to them originated from London, Germany, Canada, and the US, sources said. However, the officials did not also rule out the possibility that those making the threats used VPNs (virtual private networks) to conceal their true locations.

According to information, the BCAS and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are expected to release new guidelines for airlines to deal with bomb threats.

The jail term for perpetrators behind sending bomb threats is speculated to be increased to five years instead of the current three, and they are also to be put on a no-fly list for a lifetime.

Bomb threats and monetary loss

The surge in hoax calls has reportedly caused a loss of more than ₹200 crore to the airline operators.

Over a domestic flight’s diversion to another airport, the airline sustains a loss of around ₹5.82 lakh to ₹7.72 lakh worth of fuel. The number enormously triples up if the flight is making an international trip.

Recently, Air India sustained a loss of around ₹30–₹40 lakh for diverting a flight. It lost an additional 15,000 litres of fuel worth ₹16.5 lakh and had to pay ₹5–₹7 lakh for making an emergency landing.

Moreover, it sustained around ₹10–₹15 lakh for the passengers’ accommodation.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)

Also read:

Chicago-bound Air India flight from Delhi receives bomb threat, diverted to Canada

Mumbai-New York Air India flight diverted to Delhi after bomb threat

Vadodara airport receives bomb threat mail, authorities in action

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