India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) called for a meeting on Saturday (Oct 19) with airline CEOs following a spike in hoax bomb threats over the past four days.

India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) called for a meeting on Saturday (Oct 19) with airline CEOs following a spike in hoax bomb threats over the past four days. On Saturday alone, there were ten more false bomb threats, bringing the total to 30 threats received by various airlines in just a few days. SpiceJet faced five hoax threats, and AirAsia received another five. The airlines, feeling the financial pressure caused by these hoaxes, had earlier requested the Indian government to step in and address the issue quickly. A spokesperson for Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow said, "On 19th October, S5 223 from Lucknow to Kishangarh, received a bomb threat at 1.52 pm. CCSI Airport's Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was convened to assess the threat and security measures were implemented at the Airport as per aviation protocols. After moving the aircraft to the isolation bay, passengers were safely deboarded and CISF personnel conducted a security check... The aircraft was cleared at 4.10 pm by the security agencies." IndiGo flight 6E 108, flying from Hyderabad to Chandigarh, also received a false bomb threat. IndiGo issued a statement confirming that all passengers were safely evacuated. Hoax threats began late Friday night, and by Saturday, 30 flights from various Indian airlines had received similar messages. The situation has escalated to the point where major airports are struggling to find remote parking spaces for planes requiring security checks after such threats. Amid this, the Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu assured the public on Thursday that appropriate actions were being taken. He dismissed any larger conspiracy theories, labelling the incidents as "petty" pranks by minors or pranksters. Name on no-fly list, five-year prison sentence: India to toughen penalties for individuals sending hoax bomb threats According to ministry sources cited by news agency ANI, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is discussing potential changes to existing laws with other relevant ministries to toughen penalties for hoax bomb threats. The Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Home Affairs will establish a committee to propose amendments to the Aircraft Act of 1934, the Aircraft Rules of 1937, and related regulations. These changes would include a five-year prison sentence for offenders, as well as placing them on the no-fly list. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Aviation ministry summons airline CEOs as hoax bomb threats reach 30; tougher penalties in discussion

In response to the recent spate of&nbsp;hoax bomb threats targeting various flights, including Indian airlines,&nbsp;Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu&nbsp;said that necessary actions were being taken and ruled out any larger conspiracy behind these events.

"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&nbsp;minors&nbsp;and&nbsp;pranksters. These are all 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, within the ministry also. Consultations are going on," Ram Mohan Naidu said.&nbsp;

Stating that such "mischievous and unlawful" actions are a matter of grave concern, the minister strongly condemned "attempts to compromise the safety, security and operational integrity of the aviation section".&nbsp;

"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," read a statement on the MoCA website.&nbsp;

Naidu chaired a high-level committee on Monday (Oct 14), stating that he is monitoring the situation regularly, and the law enforcement agencies are pursuing all the cases actively, the union minister said in the letter.&nbsp;

"In response, I chaired a high-level committee on October 14, comprising officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation," the letter said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bomb-threats-disrupt-7-indian-flights-prompt-emergency-landings-767822">Watch | Bomb Threats Disrupt 7 Indian Flights, Prompt Emergency Landings</a>

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In the letter, Naidu also informed that the Mumbai Police have apprehended a minor responsible for issuing bomb threats to three flights, and added that all others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted.&nbsp;

"I am monitoring the situation regularly, and our law enforcement agencies are pursuing all the cases actively. Mumbai Police&nbsp;arrested a minor responsible for issuing bomb threats targeting three flights. All others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted," the minister said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the&nbsp;Delhi&nbsp;Police informed that an FIR has been registered under sections 217 and 351(4) of the BNS, as well as section 3(1)(d) of The Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, in connection with the recent&nbsp;hoax bomb threat&nbsp;concerning&nbsp;Akasa Air flight. A detailed investigation is currently underway

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/minor-arrested-in-connection-to-hoax-bomb-threats-to-indian-airlines-768041">Also read |&nbsp;Teenager detained in connection to hoax bomb threats to Indian carriers</a>

Additionally, after coordination with the concerned social media platform, all accounts responsible for spreading these false threats have been suspended to prevent further misuse and ensure public safety, the police added.&nbsp;

Earlier, an&nbsp;Akasa Air flight&nbsp;bound for&nbsp;Bengaluru&nbsp;from&nbsp;Delhi&nbsp;received a bomb threat on Wednesday, adding to a series of such threats received by multiple airlines in the past two days.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

In response to the recent spate of hoax bomb threats targeting various flights, including Indian airlines, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that necessary actions were being taken and ruled out any larger conspiracy behind these events.

In response to the recent spate of hoax bomb threats targeting various flights, including Indian airlines, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that necessary actions were being taken and ruled out any larger conspiracy behind these events. "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 all 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, within the ministry also. Consultations are going on," Ram Mohan Naidu said. Stating that such "mischievous and unlawful" actions are a matter of grave concern, the minister strongly condemned "attempts to compromise the safety, security and operational integrity of the aviation section". "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," read a statement on the MoCA website. Naidu chaired a high-level committee on Monday (Oct 14), stating that he is monitoring the situation regularly, and the law enforcement agencies are pursuing all the cases actively, the union minister said in the letter. "In response, I chaired a high-level committee on October 14, comprising officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation," the letter said. Watch | Bomb Threats Disrupt 7 Indian Flights, Prompt Emergency Landings × In the letter, Naidu also informed that the Mumbai Police have apprehended a minor responsible for issuing bomb threats to three flights, and added that all others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted. "I am monitoring the situation regularly, and our law enforcement agencies are pursuing all the cases actively. Mumbai Police arrested a minor responsible for issuing bomb threats targeting three flights. All others responsible for the disruptions will be identified and duly prosecuted," the minister said. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police informed that an FIR has been registered under sections 217 and 351(4) of the BNS, as well as section 3(1)(d) of The Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act, 1982, in connection with the recent hoax bomb threat concerning Akasa Air flight. A detailed investigation is currently underway Also read | Teenager detained in connection to hoax bomb threats to Indian carriers Additionally, after coordination with the concerned social media platform, all accounts responsible for spreading these false threats have been suspended to prevent further misuse and ensure public safety, the police added. Earlier, an Akasa Air flight bound for Bengaluru from Delhi received a bomb threat on Wednesday, adding to a series of such threats received by multiple airlines in the past two days. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Minors and pranksters making hoax bomb threats to flights, says Indian aviation minister

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