Impact Of Hoax Bomb Threats Can Be Varyingly Worrisome For Indian Aviation Sector

The recent spate of bomb threat hoaxes targeting Indian carriers has caused significant disruption and financial woes to the country’s aviation industry. While the exact motivation behind these hoaxes remains unclear, the pattern and frequency suggest a coordinated effort to disrupt aviation operations. Over the past 11 days, over 300 flights have been affected after a few dozen flights were targeted with bomb threats, with a particularly intense wave sweeping through mid-October. The total cost incurred by airlines due to these threats has exceeded Rs. 600 crore. Although all threats were hoaxes, their financial impact has been anything but token as each such incident can cost anywhere between Rs. 25 lakh and Rs. four crore. The numbers can be staggering, as an airline executive best summed it up. On the face of it, the hoaxes can be seen a backlash to an unprecedented growth of India's aviation industry, especially after seeing historic aircraft orders in 2023 and the rise of LCCs, but it seems unlikely as the growth of the aviation market is a consequence of the country moving to its next development phase.

Targeting the aviation sector can also be seen as an attempt to undermine confidence in the country’s infrastructure and economic growth. However, the fact we have is that the timing of these hoaxes coincides with the peak festive season, potentially aiming to cause maximum disruption.In a concerning development, more than 70 flights operated by various Indian airlines received bomb threats on Thursday. Sources indicate that Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo each reported around 20 flight threats, while Akasa Air faced threats on approximately 14 flights. This alarming trend has persisted over the last 11 days, with nearly 250 flights operated by Indian carriers being affected by similar threats. An Akasa Air spokesperson confirmed that several of its flights scheduled for October 24 had received security alerts. He said that they were in touch with the security and regulatory authorities. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister K.Rammohan Naidu had announced earlier in the week that the government is considering legislative measures to address the issue.

These measures may include putting all individuals responsible for such threats on a no-fly list, as authorities prioritize passenger safety and security in light of these serious incidents.

The situation remains under close scrutiny as airlines and the government work together to ensure the safety of air travel. Many threats are being made through social media accounts using virtual private networks (VPNs), making it difficult to trace the perpetrators. This ongoing situation has created a significant challenge for the Indian aviation sector, particularly during the peak festive season when the demand is high. Regardless, the industry is used to balancing security concerns and maintaining normal operations while facing potential financial losses and passenger anxiety.Thorough security screening covers the aircraft as well as passenger luggage and cargo. Once the threat is proven to be a fake following the screening and security inspections, the aircraft is let to fly. While no system is perfect, these comprehensive security measures make it extremely challenging for terrorists to smuggle bombs onto commercial flights.