Centre deploys additional Air Marshals in sensitive routes amid surge in bomb threats

Hoax bomb threats: In response to a significant rise in bomb threats targeting commercial flights, the central government has announced plans to double the number of Air Marshals deployed on sensitive routes. This decision comes after a spate of over ten hoax bomb alerts within a 48-hour period, prompting urgent discussions among top officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Home Affairs, according to sources.

A senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that the increase in Air Marshals was decided following assessments from intelligence agencies. The enhanced security measures will focus on international routes identified as sensitive, including flights to Kabul, Kathmandu, Colombo, and select routes in Canada and the Middle East.

"The fresh batch of Air Narshals will be deployed on new international routes added in sensitive category based on intelligence report. The decision was taken after several rounds of meetings will all stakeholders in aviation security," the officer added.

The recent surge in threats led to an emergency meeting chaired by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, which included representatives from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF). While all recent bomb threats have been deemed hoaxes, the disruptions caused included the diversion of an Air India flight from Delhi to Chicago to Iqaluit, Canada.

Zulfiqar Hasan, Director General of BCAS, told a media house, “The Indian skies are completely safe,” as all aircraft were thoroughly checked and cleared by security agencies. He also noted that Mumbai Police have arrested an individual suspected of issuing the threats via social media.

The government is working on regulatory measures to blacklist those responsible for hoax bomb alerts from future flights. Such alerts not only create significant logistical challenges for airlines but also result in financial losses and distress for passengers.

An Akasa Air flight from Delhi to Bengaluru was forced to return shortly today after takeoff due to a bomb threat. The flight, carrying over 180 passengers, landed safely, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by the aviation sector in maintaining passenger safety amid these security concerns.