On Sunday, a person was detained by security agencies at Kolkata Airport after falsely claiming that there was a bomb on a plane, according to airport sources. The individual was apprehended in the boarding area, and security personnel, including a dog squad, conducted a thorough search of the aircraft. Further details are awaited.
This incident is part of a troubling trend of hoax bomb threats affecting India’s aviation sector. In October 2024, over 100 flights operated by Indian airlines received bomb threats in a single day, causing widespread disruptions. Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara were among those targeted. The Mumbai Police registered 14 cases related to these threats in October alone.
In another instance, an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to Canada due to a bomb threat, which later proved to be a hoax. Passengers were stranded in freezing conditions before being transported to their destination by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The Indian government is taking steps to address this issue. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan announced plans to introduce legislation that would place individuals making hoax bomb threats on a no-fly list and amend the 1982 Civil Aviation Act to facilitate arrests without court orders.
Also read: EPFO Shakes Things Up: Big Decisions on Compassionate Appointments, Audits, and Reform!
These incidents highlight the need for stringent measures to deter such malicious activities and ensure the safety and security of air travel in India.