Increase in Air Marshals Amid Bomb Threats

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

The government plans to increase the number of air marshals to counter bomb threats.
In the last three days, over 12 hoax bomb threats were reported by different airlines.
Hoax callers will be added to the no-fly list and strict measures will be implemented.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Recently, there has been a significant rise in hoax bomb threats on Indian flights, alerting security agencies and the civil aviation ministry. In the past three days, over a dozen flights, operating on both domestic and international routes, have been targeted with these fake threats, causing alarm among passengers and airport authorities. The Indian government is now considering stronger security measures to tackle the issue.

Increase in Air Marshals:
To boost flight security, the government plans to increase the number of air marshals on flights. Currently, a unit of NSG commandos operates as air marshals, primarily on international and certain sensitive domestic routes. Following advice from intelligence agencies, there is discussion of doubling the number of air marshals to enhance security on board flights. Air marshals are armed plainclothes security officers ready to act in case of an emergency.

Update to the No-Fly List:
The government is also considering adding hoax callers (those making fake bomb threats) to the ‘no-fly list.’ The civil aviation ministry is working with law enforcement agencies to identify and restrict these callers from flying. The aim is to penalize individuals responsible for creating security risks and causing panic.

In a meeting attended by officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and other agencies, several measures were discussed to enhance flight safety, especially on domestic and international routes.