Amid a wave of hoax bomb threats targeting Indian airlines, officials from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) met with airline representatives in Delhi last week to discuss security concerns, according to ANI. The meeting, held at BCAS headquarters, was led by BCAS Director General Zulfiqar Hasan and focused on the operational challenges faced by airlines due to these false threats, particularly during the festive season when congestion at airports is a significant concern.
During the discussions, airline representatives expressed their difficulties in managing the heightened security demands following the series of hoax bomb warnings. In response, Hasan emphasized the importance of adhering to strict security protocols to ensure passenger safety. He assured airline officials that BCAS is coordinating with relevant agencies to identify the root cause behind the sudden surge in these threats.
In a statement to ANI after the meeting, Hasan reassured passengers, stating, “Indian skies are absolutely safe. The current protocol to deal with such situations is robust and is being strictly followed. We reassure passengers that they should fly without any fear and, in fact, fly even more.”
The meeting comes in the wake of nearly 70 Indian flights receiving hoax bomb threats in recent days. These incidents have resulted in significant disruptions, with some flights being diverted and others requiring all passengers to be re-screened. The situation has caused widespread delays and inconvenience, as well as substantial financial losses, which airlines estimate run into crores of rupees.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu addressed the issue recently, stating that law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the threats and the government is closely monitoring the situation. Naidu also indicated that the government is considering increasing the deployment of air marshals on flights as a precautionary measure while authorities probe for any possible patterns in the threats.
