Indian airlines hit by 30 bomb threats in six days as aviation safety officials meet

Ten hoax bomb threats were received by multiple airlines on Saturday

After a wave of hoax bomb threats targeting Indian airlines over the past four days, the Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Zulfiquar Hasan, held a meeting with airline representatives at the BCAS headquarters in Delhi on Saturday to address the situation.

Officials report that a total of 30 bomb threats have been received by multiple airlines, with ten threats alone on Saturday—five targeting SpiceJet and five aimed at AirAsia.

Among the affected airlines, Star Air had to move one of its aircraft to an isolation bay following a threat, after which passengers were allowed to proceed to the terminal following a full security check.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation responded by stating that anyone found guilty of issuing such threats will be placed on a no-fly list. A senior official added that a committee will be formed in consultation with the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Home Affairs to amend the Aircraft Act, 1934, and Aircraft Rules, 1937. The proposed amendments include a five-year imprisonment and adding offenders to a no-fly list as penalties for hoax bomb threats.