New Delhi: Amid several Indian airlines receiving a series of hoax bomb threats in the last few days, the Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with the airlines on Saturday at the BCAS headquarters in Delhi, ANI reported. Officials said the meeting, chaired by DG BCAS Zulfiquar Hasan, was convened to discuss the issues faced by the airlines.

During the meeting, representatives of the airlines discussed the problems they are facing due to the series of hoax bomb threats. They also said that security concerns could lead to congestion at the airport during the festive season. During the meeting, BCAS asked the airlines to strictly adhere to the security guidelines.

Aviation Body Launches Probe To Find ‘Root Cause’

BCAS officials assured the airline representatives that they were working with the relevant authorities to find the root cause of the problem. The back-to-back threats have put a considerable burden on airlines, security forces and passengers. And it is difficult for all those involved in aviation security to maintain stable operations during the festive season, the officials added.

Earlier, Spice Jet and Air Asia flights received five bomb threats each, with multiple airlines receiving a total of 30 bomb threats in the last four days. Five hoax bomb threats were received by Spice jet, regarding flights SG 55, SG 116, SG 211, SG 476, SG 2939. Five more were received by Air Asia regarding flights 9I 506, 9I 528, 9I 822, 9I 661, 9I 804.

According to official sources, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is in talks with the other concerned ministries to make required amendments in the existing laws to make them more stringent to deal with the cases of hoax bomb threats for flights. The accused person will be put on a no-fly list, officials said.

The official said that a committee will be formed in consultation with the law ministry and Ministry of Home Affairs to prepare a draft to make amendments to the Aircraft Act, 1934 and Aircraft Rules, 1937 and subordinate legislations to ensure a 5-year imprisonment as well as placing offenders on a no-fly list for hoax bomb threats for flights.

Nearly 70 Flights Got Hoax Bomb Threats

Nearly 70 flights belonging to Indian carriers have received hoax bomb threats in the last few days, forcing several flights to divert, making airlines re-screening their passengers and resulting in delays and inconvenience.

The rise in such threats against Indian airlines has also had a significant financial impact. Airline officials estimate losses of crores of rupees.

Earlier this week, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said law enforcement agencies were actively pursuing all cases of bomb threats on airlines and the government was closely monitoring the situation.

The Union government is also planning to increase the deployment of air marshals on flights, while investigation agencies examine whether there is a “pattern” in the warnings.

The Union government is also considering increasing the deployment of air marshals on flights as investigative agencies examine whether there is a “pattern” in the warnings.

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