October 19, 2024 : Indian airlines have faced continued bomb threat incidents for five consecutive days, with a recent Vistara flight from Delhi to London being diverted to Frankfurt. A Vistara spokesperson confirmed that the flight landed safely at Frankfurt Airport, and necessary checks were being conducted.
Nearly 40 bomb threats have been reported for Indian flights.
In recent days, Indian airlines have received bomb threats targeting around 40 flights, all of which were later proven to be hoaxes. These repeated threats have had a significant financial impact, with airline officials estimating the losses in crores.
On October 14, a Boeing 777 flight from Mumbai to New York’s JFK Airport had to be diverted back to Delhi after receiving a bomb threat shortly after takeoff. There were 200 passengers onboard, and the plane was carrying approximately 130 tons of jet fuel. To land safely, over 100 tons of fuel had to be jettisoned, costing the airline around ₹1 crore ($120,000), according to a report by the Times of India.
Apart from the fuel disposal, the total cost of this false threat, including unscheduled flight operations, accommodation for passengers, connecting flights, and crew changes, is estimated to exceed ₹3 crore ($360,000).
In a more serious incident on October 15, another Air India Boeing 777 flying from Delhi to Chicago was diverted to the Canadian town of Iqaluit due to a bomb threat. Over 200 passengers were onboard, and the flight was grounded for three and a half days. The airline had to charter a Canadian Air Force plane to transport stranded passengers to their destination, adding to the expenses.
The daily leasing cost for a Boeing 777 ranges from $17,000 to $20,000, further increasing the financial burden on the airline. The total cost of this incident is expected to exceed ₹15-20 crore ($1.8-2.4 million).
Government Considers Regulatory Changes
In response to the growing number of false bomb threats, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu indicated that the ministry is working on amending civil aviation regulations to ensure stricter action against offenders.
“We are taking this seriously. We will take action,” Naidu said, adding that the ministry is reviewing international regulations to effectively address such threats.
The ministry is also considering placing individuals responsible for bomb threats on a no-fly list and may propose legal reforms if necessary.