In 2024, Indian airlines received a significant number of bomb threats, with 728 threats reported to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry. Out of these, 714 were hoax threats received by domestic airlines, while 14 were received by foreign carriers. According to the data, IndiGo received the highest number of bomb threats at 216, followed by Air India (179), Vistara (153), Akasa Air (72), SpiceJet (35), Alliance Air (26), Air India Express (19), and Star Air (14).
The bomb threats were reported to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which is responsible for handling such incidents. Interestingly, only 13 people were arrested in connection with these hoax bomb threats, indicating that many individuals were able to get away with making the threats without facing any consequences.
The data also reveals that international carriers such as Emirates, Air Arabia, Aeroflot, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Nok Air, and Thai Lion Air received a total of 15 bomb threats in 2024. The majority of these were also hoax threats, with only a few being deemed serious.
The Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, stated in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha that the government is taking these threats seriously and is working to ensure the safety and security of passengers and airlines. However, the low number of arrests and convictions suggest that more needs to be done to deter individuals from making such threats and to hold them accountable for their actions.