The trend of bomb threats targeting Indian airlines persisted for a fifth day, leading to the diversion of a Vistara flight bound for London from Delhi to Frankfurt on Friday.
A spokesperson for Vistara confirmed that the flight landed safely at Frankfurt Airport, where mandatory security checks are currently being conducted.
“Vistara flight UK17 operating from Delhi to London on October 18, 2024 received a security threat on social media. In line with the protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed and as a precautionary measure, the pilots decided to divert the flight to Frankfurt,” the spokesperson said.
In recent days, nearly 40 flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats, which were later revealed to be hoaxes. This wave of false threats has resulted in significant financial repercussions for the airlines, with officials estimating losses in the crores of rupees.
A Boeing 777 en route from Mumbai to New York’s JFK airport was diverted to Delhi on October 14 due to a bomb threat shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, which was carrying 200 passengers and nearly 130 tonnes of jet fuel, had to jettison over 100 tonnes of fuel to ensure a safe landing. This costly procedure resulted in a fuel wastage expense of approximately ₹1 crore ($120,000) for the airline, according to media reports.
The financial fallout from the hoax bomb threats goes beyond fuel dumping, with total costs—including unscheduled landing fees, passenger accommodations, aircraft grounding, and crew replacements—expected to exceed ₹3 crore ($360,000).
One significant incident occurred on October 15, when an Air India Boeing 777, traveling from Delhi to Chicago, was diverted to the remote Canadian town of Iqaluit due to a bomb threat. The plane, carrying over 200 passengers, was grounded for three and a half days before finally reaching Chicago. To help the stranded passengers, the airline had to charter a Canadian Air Force plane, adding to the mounting expenses.
The daily rental expenses for Boeing 777s range between $17,000 and $20,000, further increasing the airline’s financial strain, as reported by the Times of India. Consequently, the total cost associated with this incident is projected to surpass ₹15-20 crore ($1.8-2.4 million).
Government Considers Amendments to Existing Policies
In response to the increasing incidents of hoax bomb threats, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu announced that the ministry is developing amendments to civil aviation regulations to impose stricter penalties on those responsible.
“We are taking things seriously. We will take action,” Naidu said, adding that the ministry is reviewing international regulations to address such threats effectively.
The ministry is also contemplating putting individuals who make bomb threats on a no-fly list and is looking into potential legislative amendments to support these measures.
Currently, actions against hoax bomb threat incidents are enforced by the police under existing criminal laws.