Amid hoax bomb threats, additional checks at airports: Minister Ram Mohan Naidu

NEW DELHI: Amid hoax bomb threats, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the ministry has ordered additional checks at the airports for the safety of passengers, without causing any more inconvenience to them. He confirmed that out of all bomb hoax threats, only eight flights were diverted.

He said that a private network has been used to post the bomb threats on social media and agencies under the supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs are working to identify the persons behind it. “We are recommending amendment in Aircraft Security Rules to put the preparators in the no-flying list and amendments in suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act will help in stopping such activities in future,” he said.

#WATCH | Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu speaks on recent hoax bomb calls on several domestic and international flights.

He says, “…From the Ministry, we have thought of some legislative action if it is required. We have come to the conclusion that… pic.twitter.com/q0K6MxOgK8

— ANI (@ANI) October 21, 2024

More than 100 threats have been received by Indian airlines in the past week. On being asked about the inconvenience to passengers during the festive season, the minister said that all international safety protocols have been followed without causing any inconvenience to passengers. They have increased 10 per cent surveillance at airports like reviewing baggage x-ray images of a flight that has received a threat or going through a passenger checklist.

“The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is continuously in touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs on the situation of bomb threats to flights. It is a sensitive situation, and they can’t ignore any threat”, he said.

A senior official in the Bureau of Civil Aviation has confirmed that they are continuously in touch with the airlines and updating them on the situation. “The situation has caused a lot of inconvenience to passengers, but airlines are in full support to the security agencies over the threat calls”, the official added. (ANI)