Bomb Threats Impact Indian Airlines: Understanding the Costs of Hoaxes

The recent spate of bomb threats targeting Indian airlines has imposed significant logistical and financial burdens. For the fifth consecutive day, fake threats disrupted operations, leading to the diversion of a Vistara flight from Delhi to London, which landed safely in Frankfurt for mandatory security checks.

In the last few days, nearly 40 flights operated by Indian airlines have received bomb threats that ultimately turned out to be hoaxes. This alarming trend has resulted in major financial repercussions, with airline officials estimating losses in the crores of rupees.

One notable incident involved a Boeing 777 flying from Mumbai to New York’s JFK Airport on October 14, which was forced to divert to Delhi shortly after takeoff due to a bomb threat. The aircraft, carrying 200 passengers and nearly 130 tonnes of jet fuel, had to dump over 100 tonnes of fuel to land safely, costing the airline approximately ₹1 crore ($120,000) just in fuel wastage.

The financial fallout from such hoaxes extends beyond fuel costs. The total expenses, including unscheduled landing fees, passenger accommodations, aircraft grounding, and crew replacements, are projected to exceed ₹3 crore ($360,000).

Another severe case occurred on October 15, when an Air India Boeing 777 en route from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to the remote Canadian town of Iqaluit due to a bomb threat. The aircraft, with over 200 passengers on board, was grounded for three and a half days before finally reaching Chicago. To facilitate the passengers’ travel, the airline had to charter a Canadian Air Force plane, further escalating costs. Daily rental fees for a Boeing 777 range from $17,000 to $20,000, adding another layer to the financial strain. The total cost for this incident alone is expected to exceed ₹15-20 crore ($1.8-2.4 million).

Government Response and Future Actions

In response to the increasing number of hoax bomb threats, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu has announced that the ministry is considering amendments to civil aviation regulations to enforce stricter penalties against offenders. “We are taking these threats seriously and will take action,” Naidu stated, emphasizing the need for a review of international regulations to effectively address such incidents.

Additionally, the ministry is contemplating placing individuals responsible for bomb threats on a no-fly list and exploring legislative changes if necessary. Currently, actions against hoax bomb threats are pursued by law enforcement under criminal laws.