Geopolitical analysis, VIP onboard among criteria in new norms to check hoax bomb threats to flights

In the past two weeks, over 510 domestic and international flights have received bomb threats

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has issued new guidelines for civil aviation security and intelligence agencies to address the growing challenge of hoax bomb threats made against Indian airlines through various social media platforms.

These guidelines consider factors such as the anonymity or pseudonymity of the social media handle, analysis of the geopolitical situation, and the presence of VIPs on the targeted flights, as new criteria for assessing the credibility and seriousness of such threats.

In the past two weeks, over 510 domestic and international flights have received bomb threats, which later proved to be hoaxes. These threats were mostly made through anonymous social media handles, causing significant operational and financial distress for the airlines.

As per the current practice, a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) is convened at a designated airport to analyse a bomb or security threat issued against an airline, airport or any part of the aviation ecosystem that decides to declare it "specific" or serious or "non-specific" or hoax.