AFP
India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world
A dramatic and unprecedented surge in false bomb threats targeting Indian airlines is upending flight schedules, diverting planes and causing widespread disruption.
A video posted on social media last week showed passengers draped in woolens descending the icy ladder of an Air India plane into the frigid air of Iqaluit, a remote Canadian city.
The 211 passengers on the Boeing 777, initially en route from Mumbai to Chicago, were diverted early on October 15 due to a bomb threat.
“We've been stuck at the airport since 5 a.m. with 200 passengers… We have no idea what's happening or what we're supposed to do next… We're completely stuck,” posted Harit Sachdeva, a passenger, on social media. He praised the “friendly airport staff” and alleged that Air India was not doing enough to inform passengers.
Mr. Sachdeva's message reflects the frustration and anxiety of passengers diverted to an unknown and distant destination. A few hours later, a Canadian Air Force plane put an end to their ordeal by transporting the stranded passengers to Chicago. Air India confirmed the flight was diverted to Iqaluit due to a “security threat posted online.”
The threat was false, mirroring many similar hoaxes targeting Indian airlines so far this year. Last week alone, there were at least 30 threats, leading to diversions, cancellations and delays. In June, 41 airports received false email bomb threats in a single day, leading to increased security.
Getty Images
Frankfurt-bound Vistara plane diverted to Turkey after bomb threat in September
As a reminder, between 2014 and 2017, authorities recorded 120 bomb threats at airports, almost half of which were directed at Delhi and Mumbai, the country's largest airports. This highlights the recurring nature of these threats in recent years, but this year's rise has been sensational.
“I am deeply concerned by the recent disruptive acts targeting Indian airlines, affecting domestic and international operations. Such malicious and illegal actions are a matter of grave concern. I condemn attempts to undermine the safety, security and “operational integrity of our aviation sector,” the federal government said. said Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu.
So what's going on?
Experts say false bomb threats targeting airlines are often linked to malicious intent, attention-seeking, mental health issues, disruption of business operations or a prank. In 2018, a series of bomb jokes by airline passengers in Indonesia led to flight disruptions. Even travelers have been found guilty: last year, a frustrated passenger tried to delay a SpiceJet flight by calling in a bomb threat after missing check-in at an airport in Bihar, India.
These hoaxes end up wreaking havoc on one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. More than 150 million passengers took a domestic flight in India last year, according to the civil aviation ministry. More than 3,000 flights arrive and depart every day in the country from over 150 operational airports, including 33 international airports.
Last week's hoaxes reached their peak even as Indian airlines carried a record 484,263 passengers in a single day, October 14. India has just under 700 commercial planes in service and an order book of more than 1,700 planes, according to Rob Morris of Cirium, a consultancy. “All of this would certainly make India the fastest growing commercial aircraft market today,” Mr Morris says.
Getty Images
Bomb threats against airlines inconvenience passengers, as shown by these travelers boarding another Vistara flight from Türkiye.
Consider the consequences of a bomb threat on an airline.
If the plane is in flight, it must divert to the nearest airport – like the Air India flight that diverted last week to Canada or a Vistara flight to Frankfurt from Mumbai which diverted to Turkey in September. Some involve fighter jets being dispatched to escort planes reporting threats, as happened with a Heathrow-bound Air India flight over Norfolk and an Air India Express flight to from Singapore last week.
Once on the ground, passengers disembark and all baggage, merchandise and catering are subject to thorough searches. This process can take several hours, and often the same crew cannot continue flying due to service hour limitations. As a result, a replacement crew must be put in place, further prolonging the delay.
“All of this has significant cost and network implications. Each diverted or delayed flight generates substantial expenses, as grounded planes become loss-making assets. Delays lead to cancellations and schedules become unbalanced. says Sidharath Kapur, an independent aviation expert.
The dramatic increase in social media bomb threats from anonymous accounts has complicated efforts to identify perpetrators, particularly when emails are sent directly to airlines. The motivations remain unclear, as does the question of whether the threats come from a single individual, a group or whether they are simply copied acts.
Getty Images
More than 150 million passengers took a domestic flight in India last year
Last week, Indian authorities arrested a 17-year-old school dropout for creating a social media account to make such threats. His motives remain unclear, but he reportedly targeted four flights – three international – resulting in two delays, a diversion and a cancellation. Investigators suspect some messages may have come from London and Germany after tracing the IP addresses.
Clearly, tracking down fraudsters is a big challenge. While Indian law imposes life in prison for threatening airport security or disrupting service, that penalty is too harsh for fraudulent calls and would likely not stand up to legal scrutiny. Reports suggest the government is considering putting offenders on a no-fly list and introducing new laws that could impose a five-year prison sentence.
Ultimately, such prank threats can cause serious anxiety among passengers. “My aunt called to ask if she should take the booked flight given these threats. “Should I take a train?” » she asked. I told him: 'Please keep flying,'” said an aviation consultant who preferred to remain anonymous. Threats continue to disrupt lives and sow fear.
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
