According to the Deputy civil aviation minister, 999 false bomb threats were sent to Indian Airline airports in 2024. The number of fake bomb threats sent to Indian Airports is almost ten times higher than it was a year before. Over 500 threats were made in the final two weeks of October, alone severely disrupting the flights.
The threats, though widespread, were confirmed as hoaxes with no actual security issues. Police have responded by registering 256 complaints and arresting at least 12 people. These fake threats have caused havoc on flight schedules, causing delays and diversions.
This year’s fraudulent threats are of a magnitude that has never been seen before. The biggest airports in India, Delhi and Mumbai, received over half of the 120 fake bomb threats reported between 2014 and 2017.
Despite the chaos brought on by threats, the nation’s civil aviation ministry is doing everything possible to guarantee flight operations’ safety. In several instances, the hoax threats have led to international intervention. Following a bomb threat in October, Singapore’s Air Force dispatched fighter jets to accompany an Air India Express flight.
Airports in India handle bomb threats according to strict protocols. The Bomb Threat Assessment Committee uses bomb squads, sniffer dogs, ambulances, police, and doctors. Airlines and security agencies suffer expensive delays because passengers’ baggage and aircraft are extensively screened before the trip. With over 150 million domestic passengers annually, Indian air traffic continues to grow. The recent surge in fake bomb threats sent to Indian Airports raises safety concerns.
