New Delhi: Bomb threats to flights are nothing new. But what has happened in India over the last three days is unprecedented.
As many as security threats have been received by different Indian flight operators in just over 48 hours, causing significant disruption in services. Akasa Air, Air India and IndiGo have been targeted, and though all have been found to be hoaxes, the repeated threats have raised concerns and forced the government to take cognisance.
Immediate action has been to beef up security at airports and on flights by additional deployment of sky marshals.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought reports from different airlines about the bomb threats to multiple flights. Once inputs are received, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will prepare a report, and have a meeting with MHA officials.
‘Culprits’ may be put on no-fly list
The government is seriously thinking of putting people issuing such hoax messages on the no-fly list.
In June, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) had proposed to the Union Civil Aviation ministry that people making hoax threats to flights and other aviation-linked infringements be put on no fly list.
However, BCAS did not identify the relevant law to base this move on.
“We will work it out,” a senior Civil Aviation ministry official told The Times of India.
Legal action planned
Airlines are urging government to crack down on this menace that troubles passengers, disrupts schedules and results in losses.
Air India, in fact, is considering “legal action against those responsible to recover damages incurred by the airline.”
Who issued bomb threats?
Several of these recent flurry of bomb threats to airlines were issued by the same X handle — @schizobomber777.
The bio of the account, proclaiming as a ‘real terrorist’, issued menacing threats for Air India Express’ Jaipur to Bengaluru flight via Ayodhya (IX765), SpiceJet flight from Darbhanga to Mumbai (SG116), Akasa Air flight from Bagdogra to Bengaluru (QP 1373), Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago (AI 127) and an Indigo flight from Dammam (Saudi Arabia) to Lucknow (6E 98).
The X handle tagged the respective airline as well as some police handles, claiming that bombs were placed on these planes.
Civil aviation agencies claimed they are on the heels of ‘culprits’ and will be able to nab them soon.