In the past week, numerous flights received bomb threat calls, all of which were ultimately determined to be hoaxes. These consecutive threats unsettled airlines and raised significant concerns about aviation safety protocols nationwide. Although none of the threats were real, they caused major disruptions to airline operations and inconvenienced passengers and crew members.

The series of bomb threats prompted airlines to swiftly activate their anti-terror protocols and contact the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) for assistance and investigation into the security concerns.

An official from MoCA told The Indian Express, “We know that 99.99 percent of the threats are likely to be false. However, we cannot afford to ignore the remaining 0.01 percent, so we take bomb threats very seriously, despite strict pre-departure security checks at Indian airports.”

What occurs when a flight receives a bomb threat?  

If a bomb threat is reported while a flight is in the air, an alert is triggered, and a meeting of the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) at the airport is immediately convened. The BTAC evaluates the legitimacy of the threat and decides on the appropriate response.

If the threat is deemed legitimate or "specific," the pilots consult with Air Traffic Control (ATC) and receive instructions on their next steps. Depending on the flight's location, they may be directed to return to the departure airport, proceed to their intended destination, or divert to a nearby airport.

If the threat occurs before takeoff, the aircraft is relocated to a secure area for extensive security checks after consulting the BTAC.

For international flights already outside Indian airspace, Indian agencies must coordinate with the relevant international ATC and security authorities to determine the next steps, which often involves diverting the flight to the nearest airport.

The Indian government and MoCA are actively addressing the ongoing issue of these bomb threats. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Asangba Chuba Ao, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, stated, “The aviation regulator is taking these hoax bomb threats very seriously and is working towards finding effective solutions.”