India Faces Surge in Hoax Bomb Threats With 999 Incidents Recorded In 2024, Disrupting Air Travel

India’s civil aviation sector has been hit with an alarming surge in hoax bomb threats, with 999 incidents reported as of 14 November, nearly ten times more than in 2023, according to Deputy Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol.

The increase in threats has caused severe disruptions to flight schedules, especially during the final two weeks of October, when over 500 hoax threats were registered.

These threats, although false, have significantly impacted operations at India’s airports, with several flights delayed or diverted. Among the affected flights were international routes, including an Air India Express flight that was escorted by Singapore’s Air Force and another Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago that was diverted to a remote Canadian airport.

Despite the widespread disruption, no actual bomb threats were detected, and authorities have managed to neutralise the hoaxes without major incidents. Police have registered 256 complaints and arrested 12 individuals in connection with the threats. However, the dramatic increase in hoaxes marks an unprecedented rise in bomb threats, with the country’s airports now managing a significant escalation in such incidents.

Between 2014 and 2017, Indian authorities recorded just 120 bomb hoax alerts, with nearly half directed at Delhi and Mumbai airports. In contrast, the number of hoax threats this year suggests a growing trend, with implications for both domestic and international air travel.

India’s civil aviation ministry has stated that it is making every possible effort to maintain flight safety and minimise the disruption caused by these threats. The country’s airports have a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee in place, which coordinates the response to such incidents, involving bomb disposal units, sniffer dogs, and medical personnel, among other measures. The delays, however, can be costly, with airlines and security agencies facing significant financial damages.

India’s aviation sector remains one of the busiest in the world, with more than 150 million passengers flying domestically last year and over 3,000 flights departing or arriving daily across more than 150 airports.

Follow us on: