Bomb threats are causing airlines to ramp up security checks. But what penalties do offenders face, and how does this financially impact the industry. ✈️
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00:00More than 90 flights have received bomb threats through emails and social media posts since
00:0414th October 2024.
00:07But all threats have also turned out to be fake.
00:10Some common phrases found in these threats included blood will spread everywhere, explosive
00:15devices, a bomb has been placed and you will all die, Indigo, Vistara, Air India, Akasa
00:21Air, Spicejet, Alliance Air and Star Air were the airlines that were targeted by these threats.
00:26A 17-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh was detained by the police for allegedly making threats
00:41against three flights that were leaving from Mumbai on October 14th.
00:45The investigation revealed that he had a dispute with his friend over money, after which he
00:49posted threats on social media.
00:51He was handed over to the Juvenile Justice Board and the police were investigating his
00:56involvement in other bomb threats targeting airlines.
01:03On 15th October, Air India flight AI-127 carrying over 200 passengers from Delhi to Chicago
01:10received a fake bomb threat resulting in an emergency landing in Canada.
01:14One of the passengers from the flight expressed his frustration about being stranded at the
01:18airport.
01:24Another Air India express flight from Dubai to Jaipur with 189 passengers on board received
01:30a bomb threat via email, but it also turned out to be fake after a thorough check was
01:35conducted at Jaipur airport.
01:37An official from the Ministry of Civil Aviation told the Indian Express that we know that
01:4299.9% of the threats will turn out to be fake, but no one wants to take a chance with the
01:48remaining 0.01%.
01:50We take bomb threats very seriously.
01:52When an aircraft receives a bomb threat, a detailed security process is followed.
01:57This involves diverting the plane to the nearest airport in case it's already in the air or
02:02moving it to a safer area in case it has not taken off yet, so that passengers can quickly
02:06exit the plane and checking can take place.
02:09Both the aircraft and the passengers' bags along with the cargo are thoroughly screened.
02:14This usually takes hours.
02:15A Star Air flight from Punjab was delayed for around 4 hours due to a fake bomb threat on
02:2019th October.
02:22These fake threat messages not only cause inconvenience to passengers and crew members,
02:27but also severely disrupt airline operations.
02:29When flights are diverted to other airports, especially overseas, airlines face extra costs
02:35for accommodation due to delays, transport and crew overtime.
02:39An aviation expert told Business Today TV that diverting a domestic flight could cost
02:43between Rs 13-17 lakh per hour, while international flights could cost 3-5 times more.
02:50An Air India Boeing 777 flying from Mumbai to New York was diverted to Delhi due to a
02:55bomb threat, costing the airline more than Rs 3 crore.
02:59The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has been working with cyber security agencies
03:03and police to trace the culprits behind the threats.
03:06Some of the IP addresses used to send threats to flights were traced to locations abroad
03:11including Germany and London.
03:13However, the use of virtual private networks or VPNs by those posting the threats has made
03:19it challenging for central agencies to trace the exact locations.
03:22To address this, the agencies plan to contact VPN service providers to track the sources
03:28of these threats.
03:29So, we don't want these kinds of situations to repeat themselves.
03:32So, from the ministry, we are ensuring that some action is being taken on these kinds
03:37of issues so that they don't become precedent for future.
03:40Making fake bomb calls is considered a serious offence in India.
03:44Offenders could face up to 3 years in prison under section 353 of the Bharatiya Naisa Neta
03:49for causing fear or alarm to the public or up to 2 years under section 351 of the Bharatiya
03:55Naisa Neta if the threat is made anonymously.
03:58Additionally, offenders must pay the cost of services used during the emergencies as
04:03penalties.
04:04The officials of the Civil Aviation Ministry said that they are working with other ministries
04:08on the amendments to the Aircraft Act 1934 and Aircraft Rules 1937 and subordinate legislations
04:15to ensure 5-year imprisonment as well as placing offenders on the no-fly list.
04:20They added that while the suppression of unlawful acts against safety of Civil Aviation Act
04:25of 1982 allows for life imprisonment for threats to airport safety or disruptions, this punishment
04:32is too harsh for fake calls and may not hold up in court.
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