The recent surge of hoax bomb threats targeting flights, including Indian airlines, has caused widespread concern. However, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu assured the public that necessary actions are being taken to address the situation.
Speaking about the issue, Naidu emphasised that there is no evidence pointing to a larger conspiracy behind the incidents. He clarified that many of these calls are originating from minors and pranksters, making them isolated cases rather than coordinated attacks.
The Minister stated, "Action is being taken on this. We can’t comment on any kind of a conspiracy, but from whatever little bit we know, these calls are coming from some minors and pranksters. These are minor and isolated incidents. There is no kind of conspiracy that we can comment on. From our side, we are going to see what best we can do. We are talking to the airlines, security agencies, and within the ministry. Consultations are going on."
Naidu expressed his concern over the threats, calling the actions "mischievous and unlawful" while condemning any attempts to disrupt the safety and security of the aviation sector.
In an official statement on the Ministry of Civil Aviation's website, he added, "I am deeply concerned over the recent disruptive acts targeting Indian airlines, affecting domestic and international operations. Such mischievous and unlawful actions are a matter of grave concern, and I strongly condemn any attempts to compromise the safety, security, and operational integrity of our aviation sector."
To address the issue, the minister chaired a high-level meeting on October 14, which included officials from key agencies such as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the Ministry of Home Affairs. He assured the public that the situation is being closely monitored, and law enforcement agencies are actively investigating all cases.
In his statement, Naidu mentioned that Mumbai Police had already apprehended a minor involved in issuing bomb threats to three flights. He emphasised that all others responsible for these threats would be identified and brought to justice.
"I am monitoring the situation regularly, and our law enforcement agencies are pursuing all the cases actively. Mumbai Police has arrested a minor responsible for issuing bomb threats targeting three flights. All others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted," he said.
In a related development, the Delhi Police registered an FIR under various sections of the law, including the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, in connection with the recent hoax bomb threat targeting an Akasa Air flight. The case is currently under investigation, and the authorities are working to uncover more details.
Furthermore, in collaboration with a social media platform, law enforcement agencies have suspended all accounts that were involved in spreading these false threats. This step was taken to prevent further misuse of social media for such disruptive activities and to ensure public safety.
The series of hoax bomb threats have disrupted operations for several airlines over the past two days. One such incident involved an Akasa Air flight bound for Bengaluru from Delhi, which received a bomb threat on Wednesday.
While these threats have caused significant disruptions and concern among passengers, authorities are working diligently to investigate each case and maintain the security of the aviation sector.
In light of these developments, Naidu’s assurance and active involvement in monitoring the situation have brought some relief to the public. He emphasised that the safety of passengers and the integrity of India’s aviation industry remains the top priority.
With the combined efforts of the airlines, security agencies, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the government aims to address these incidents swiftly and effectively.
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