Price of Panic: How Hoax Bomb Threats Affect Airlines And Passengers | Explained

New Delhi: At least 13 Indian flights have received hoax bomb threats in the past 48 hours, resulting in significant delays and diversions. While hoax bomb threats are not uncommon in India, the recent surge since Monday remains unexplained.

On October 16, three flights—Air India Flight 103, Akasa Air Flight QP 1335, and IndiGo Flight 6E 651—reported bomb threats early in the day. The day before, three international flights departing from Mumbai experienced diversions or delays after a threat was posted on an X (formerly Twitter) handle. Police have since detained a teenager in connection with this incident.

On Tuesday, another wave of threats affected seven flights, including two operated by Air India, with the messages originating from a different X account that has since been suspended.

What Happens When an Airline Receives a Bomb Threat Alert?

Each Indian airport has a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee responsible for evaluating the seriousness of the threat and determining the appropriate response. When a threat is received, it may prompt the involvement of various emergency services, including bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs, ambulances, police, and medical personnel.

Passengers, along with their cabin and check-in baggage, are offloaded from the aircraft, which is then subject to thorough screening. Engineering and security teams conduct detailed inspections of the plane before it is cleared for takeoff again.

Such incidents often lead to significant delays, costing airlines and security agencies thousands of dollars.

For flights destined for international locations, the situation can escalate further, involving international agencies. For instance, on Tuesday, Singapore’s defense minister reported that two fighter jets were "scrambled and escorted" an Air India Express flight from Madurai to Singapore as it approached Changi Airport.

"Once on the ground, the aircraft was handed over to the Airport Police, and investigations are ongoing," stated Ng Eng Hen.

Similarly, in Canada, an Air India flight bound for Chicago made a precautionary landing at Iqaluit Airport due to a bomb threat, prompting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to initiate an investigation into the matter.