BCAS Takes Strict Action on Hoax Bomb Threats to Domestic Airlines

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Domestic airlines faced multiple hoax bomb threats recently, creating panic among passengers.
BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan met airline CEOs, assuring strict adherence to security protocols.
Plans to blacklist perpetrators of hoax threats and place them on the no-fly list are underway.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

In the last few days, Indian domestic airlines have been flooded with hoax bomb threats, causing significant concern over aviation safety. Zulfiquar Hasan, Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), convened a meeting with the CEOs of major airlines at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in Delhi, reassuring them that all security protocols were being strictly followed. He also encouraged heightened vigilance amid rising concerns.

According to sources, over 70 flights operated by Indian carriers have received hoax bomb threats. One of the most alarming incidents occurred when a note was found in the lavatory of a flight, indicating a bomb on board. Recently, the Mumbai Police detained a 17-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh in connection with bomb threats made to three flights on October 14.

In response to these incidents, the Civil Aviation Ministry is considering stricter regulations. These include placing individuals responsible for such hoaxes on a no-fly list. Authorities have been working with Virtual Private Network (VPN) providers and social media platforms to trace the origin of the threat messages, despite the challenges posed by VPN usage, which obscures the physical location of the perpetrators.