For context: between 2014 and 2017, the authorities recorded 120 explosion warnings, external at airports, with almost half going to Delhi and Mumbai, the country’s largest airports. This highlights the periodic nature of such threats in recent years, but this year’s surge has been sensational. (It is difficult to know how India compares with other countries, as data is not available.)
“I am deeply concerned about the recent sabotage of Indian airlines affecting domestic and international operations. Such malicious and illegal acts are a matter of grave concern. I condemn attempts to jeopardize the safety, security and operational integrity of our aviation sector,” Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said.
So what’s going on?
Experts say fake bomb threats against airlines often involve malicious intent, attention-seeking, mental health issues, disruption of business operations or pranks. In 2018, A a rash of bomb jokes, external of plane passengers in Indonesia led to flight disruptions. Even leaflets turned out to be guilty: last year a a frustrated passenger tried to delay the SpiceJet flight, external calling in a bomb threat after failing to check in at an airport in Bihar, India.
These deceptions end up wreaking havoc on one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, more than 150 million passengers flew in India last year. More than 3,000 flights arrive and depart the country daily from more than 150 active airports, including 33 international ones.
The hoaxes were at their peak last week even as Indian airlines were flying 484,263 passengers, external October 14 became a record for one day for the country. According to Rob Morris of consultancy Cirium, India has just under 700 commercial passenger jets in operation, with more than 1,700 on order. “All this will undoubtedly make India the fastest growing market for commercial aircraft today,” says Mr Morris.
