Unseen Turbulence: Handling Bomb Threats to Indian Airlines

Top aviation security officials met India's Union Home Secretary to discuss persistent bomb threats to airlines, causing flight disruptions. Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Central Industrial Security Force leaders outlined security measures. Despite no immediate details of the meeting, the incidents have alarmed aviation authorities.

In a decisive move to address escalating concerns, two leading aviation security officers held a crucial meeting with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Monday. At the heart of discussions was the surging frequency of bomb threats targeted at Indian airlines, which have triggered numerous diversions and cancellations amidst growing passenger anxiety.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security's Director General Zulfiquar Hasan and Central Industrial Security Force's Director General Rajwinder Singh Bhatti spent a significant half-hour briefing Mohan at his North Block office. Though specific details of their discussion remain undisclosed, it is clear that the meeting was a response to a spike in bomb threat incidents that have kept security agencies on high alert.

Notably, this alarming trend saw over 25 Indian flights threatened on a single Sunday, with the numbers escalating throughout the week. Despite most threats being hoaxes, the impact is undeniable. The BCAS is tasked with setting security protocols for flights and ensuring their enforcement, while CISF personnel are responsible for safeguarding 68 civilian airports, spotlighting the depth of the issue at hand.

(With inputs from agencies.)