NEW DELHI: On Monday, the government announced the arrest of 13 individuals in 2024 regarding false bomb threats directed at airlines. In the previous year, a total of 728 bomb threats were reported to airlines, with 714 pertaining to domestic carriers, as per the information provided by the civil aviation ministry in the Rajya Sabha.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, cited data from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), reporting that airline operators received 728 hoax bomb threats in 2024.
Among Indian airlines, IndiGo topped the list with the highest number of bomb threats recorded at 216, followed by Air India with 179, Vistara at 153, Akasa Air with 72, SpiceJet at 35, Alliance Air with 26, Air India Express with 19, and Star Air with 14.
The overall total includes 14 bomb threats reported by foreign airlines. Emirates and Air Arabia faced five and three threats, respectively, while one threat each was reported by Aeroflot, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air according to the data.
“In total, 13 individuals have been arrested in 2024 in light of the hoax bomb threats,” he stated in a written response.
The BCAS has established stringent protocols to manage such threats, and as part of the Bomb Threat Contingency Plan (BTCP), each airport has a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) tasked with evaluating the threat and responding accordingly.
“To address hoax bomb threats, BCAS has issued advisories to all civil aviation stakeholders in the country to ensure consistent security measures and to avert any unlawful disturbances in civil aviation,” the minister added.
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