False Alarm: Three International Flights Receive Bomb Threats
Hoax bomb threat messages have turned Monday into a chaotic day for three international flights from two Indian carriers, affecting nearly 600 passengers on board
Bomb Scare
In response to the threats, which are taken very seriously, one flight—Air India's Mumbai-New York service—was diverted to Delhi, while two IndiGo flights (Mumbai-Muscat and Mumbai-Jeddah) experienced delays for thorough security checks before they could proceed to their destinations. Fortunately, the threats were ultimately deemed hoaxes, but such incidents continue to disrupt flight schedules.
The affected flights included AI 119, which was redirected to Delhi, and IndiGo flights 6E1275 and 6E56. Aviation security officials confirmed that the threat messages were false.
Hoax threats can severely disrupt flight operations. When a threat is received, thorough inspections of airports, aircraft, passengers, and baggage are mandatory. This process can take several hours, often pushing the maximum operational time for flight crews to their limits, necessitating the arrangement of additional crew members.
In light of the rising frequency of such incidents, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) proposed this summer that individuals issuing hoax threats against flights, airports, or any aviation-related facility should be placed on a no-fly list for five years.
“Six individuals have already been arrested for making these hoax threats, and investigations are ongoing, with more arrests expected soon. We have suggested that those found guilty be banned from flying for five years across all airlines,” stated BCAS DG Zulfiquar Hasan on June 18, 2024.
