After nearly 100 flights received bomb threats in seven days since October 14, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has said safety is the government's top priority and rules are being amended to put people who make such calls on the no-fly list. Making such threats will also be made a cognisable offence, with provisions for punishment and fines.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Mr Naidu said even though the threats have turned out to be hoaxes, there is a strict protocol that is followed by his department and airlines. "It is a very sensitive situation when it comes to such threats, there is an international procedure that we have to follow," he said.
The minister said multiple meetings have been held with stakeholders since the spate of calls began and amendments are being considered in the Aircraft (Security) Rules so that the people making such threats can be put on the no-fly list after they are identified.
The other approach, Mr Naidu said, is amending the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation (SUASCA) Act, 1982, and consultations for this are being held with other ministries.
"If you look at the last week, eight flights have been diverted. Each threat is assessed individually and our response has been efficient and dynamic. We are also not compromising on safety and security. Even though most of them are hoax threats, we cannot take them lightly. The lives of passengers are important, the security situation is important and protocol is important. We have enhanced security at airports," the minister said.
Emphasising that the protocol is very rigid and strict procedures have to be followed, Mr Naidu said several meetings have been held with airlines and their opinion has been sought to minimise inconvenience to them as well as passengers.
"We are all working towards a common goal. Even one plane getting diverted or delayed is not what we want... There has to be some kind of deterrent and that is what we are doing with our planned amendments to the rules and the Act. We are working with the Ministry of Home Affairs and state law enforcement agencies to speed up the investigations into the threats. The safety and security of passengers and their convenient travel is our utmost priority," he said.
"With the collective efforts of everyone, we are going to see a much better picture in the coming days," the minister added.
Home Ministry Meeting
A key high-level meeting was also held in the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday in which updates were taken from aviation security body Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force, which is responsible for security at airports.
Officials said Home Secretary Govind Mohan was also given details of the investigation so far by BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan and CISF Director General Rajwinder Singh Bhatti.
Over 20 flights received bomb threats on Sunday, taking the figure since October 14 to nearly 100. The Mumbai Police has also taken a 17-year-old boy into custody for issuing threats to four flights, including three on international routes. Police officials had said the teenager wanted to frame one of his friends, with whom he had a dispute over money.
Over a dozen first information reports (FIRs) have been registered by the Mumbai Police and the Delhi Police in connection with the threats.
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