NEW DELHI: Airlines have received almost 1,000 bomb hoax messages so far this year. Minister of state (MoS) for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Wednesday said in Parliament: “As many as 27 hoax bomb threat calls were received between August and December 2022. The number increased to 122 in 2023, while the current year alone witnessed a sharp rise, with 994 calls reported as of mid-November 2024.”
Government data given in reply to another question says last three months have seen 680 hoax messages, with IndiGo, Air India, Vistara and Akasa receiving most of them.
“Hoax bomb threats result in adversely affecting operations of some of the flights resulting in impact on airlines and airports. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, aviation security regulator in the country, take note of such threats and brings them to the notice of the concerned agencies for taking appropriate remedial action. BCAS has issued advisory to concerned stakeholders to streamline security measures in view of the recent bomb threats. Implementation of advanced technology at airports and increased security personnel training is a dynamic requirement. The same is reviewed from time to time and necessary steps are taken,” Mohol said in a reply.
Bomb threats received in October 2024:
IndiGo: 162
Air India: 154
Vistara: 150
Akasa: 67
SpiceJet: 28
Alliance Air: 24
Rest: 29
Total: 614
(Source: Parliamentary question)