Airline Bomb Threats: Centre Weighs Foreign Rules, BCAS Amendments, No-Fly List for Perpetrators

New Delhi: As over 20 flights of various Indian airlines, including international ones, received bomb threats in the past four days, the civil aviation ministry is planning to put in place strict norms to prevent such incidents, including placing perpetrators on the no-fly list, a senior official said on Thursday.Some of these flights were diverted, although most of the threats have turned out to be hoaxes.

Against this backdrop, the ministry is considering amending existing rules, including those related to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), to ensure stringent punishments for the culprits, the official said.

"Placing individuals making hoax bomb threats in the airlines' no-fly list is one of the proposals being looked at," the official said.

The official also added that legal opinions are being gathered regarding the proposed changes to the rules. Provisions followed in foreign countries to handle hoax bomb threats are also being examined by the ministry.

Further, the official said that if necessary, legislative amendments will be explored to create a strong deterrent against such threats.

Currently, there are strict norms against unruly passenger behavior onboard flights, but there are no specific regulations addressing bomb threats originating from outside sources like social media.

At present, police take action against hoax bomb threats under criminal laws.

The official also said that discussions are ongoing with the home and law ministries, and inputs are being gathered from airlines. "We want rules that can act as a deterrent," the official said.

On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing all cases of bomb threats against airlines, and the government is closely monitoring the situation.

He also condemned any attempt to compromise the safety, security, and operational integrity of the aviation sector.