New Delhi, October 19, 2024 — In response to a surge of hoax bomb calls over the past four days, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held an emergency meeting with the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of several airlines. The meeting, currently underway at the BCAS headquarters in Delhi, aims to strengthen protocols and ensure smooth air operations amidst the disruptions caused by these false alarms.
Addressing the situation, BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan reassured passengers, saying, “Indian skies are absolutely safe. The current protocol to deal with the situation is robust and is being strictly followed. We reassure passengers that they should fly without any fear.”
According to one source, BCAS officials had “very good” discussions with airline representatives during the meeting, which covered various security aspects and operational challenges. Another source revealed that the meeting also focused on refining the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling bomb threats to prevent unnecessary panic and minimize disruptions.
Over the past week, more than 70 flights operated by Indian airlines have received bomb threats, most of which were confirmed as hoaxes. However, these incidents have caused temporary chaos, with some flights experiencing delays and airports operating under heightened security.
BCAS is urging airlines and airports to maintain high levels of vigilance, while also working towards improving coordination to deal with such incidents efficiently. “The goal is to ensure passenger safety without compromising convenience,” said an official involved in the discussions.
The regulator has assured that Indian airports and airlines are fully prepared to handle such threats, emphasizing that there is no reason for passengers to be alarmed. A detailed briefing on the meeting’s outcomes is expected shortly.