India tightens aviation security as bomb threats revive ghost of 1985 AI bombing

Hoax bomb threat delays flight in India

The government has sprung into action to step up security measures after 70 bomb threats to domestic airlines were reported between October 14 and 20 that caused significant disruptions like flight cancellations, delays, and diversions.

The government last week summoned top officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) to discuss potential threat perception. These agencies, along with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), have been tasked to submit detailed reports on the bomb threats, assessing the scale of the issue, and recommending measures to enhance safety.

Senior officials told Moneycontrol that government's cybercrime units has also been chipped in to trace the origin of the emails that issued bomb threats. Sources indicate that many of these messages appear to have been masked and were sent from foreign accounts, which were shut down after detection.

Zulfiquar Hasan, director-general of BCAS, addressed public concerns on October 19, insisting that the Indian skies remain safe and secure and urging passengers not to be scared. The sheer volume of threats in such a short period has, however, prompted further government action.

"The number of bomb threats we have received in the past week is extraordinary," a senior BCAS official told Moneycontrol. "Before this, we would typically handle two-three non-specific threats a week, but in the last week, that number rose to 70."

The spate of bomb threats has also ruffled feathers in the central government with director-general of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Vikram Dev Dutt being transferred to the coal ministry as secretary on October 19. BCAS also held a high-level meeting with top executives from major airlines on the same day.

While all the threats received last week turned out to be hoax, the situation remained tensed, particularly because of the political standoff between India and Canada over Khalistani separatist activities. Last week's bomb threats coincided with the death anniversary of Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind behind the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing, which had killed 329 people. A host of hijackings too had roiled the Indian aviation industry around the same time.

A senior executive from a domestic airline told Moneycontrol that there have been rising threats from Khalistani outfits and leaders warning Indian and Canadian Sikh citizens to stay clear of certain flights. This has been perceived as indirect threat to those flights. "In the last week, there has been an increase in online activity across social media, emails and discussion forums warning Punjabi and Canadian Sikhs to avoid flights, and direct threats issued to airlines on social media and over emails," the executive told Moneycontrol on condition of anonymity.

A government official also said that an old video of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader, warning people to stay away from Air India flights beginning November 19, 2023 too went viral last week.

What India is doing to safeguard flights?

In response to the heightened threat level, the government is ramping up security measures. On October 16, the home ministry briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, sharing plans to increase the number of elite National Security Guard (NSG) personnel deployed on international flights. Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam informed the committee that investigators have gathered some information related to the recent threats and are taking action accordingly.

The central government is also exploring the possibility of placing individuals responsible for bomb threats on the no-fly list. This proposal, initially put forward by BCAS in June 2024, is being revisited following the recent spike in threats. Air marshals are also expected to be deployed on more routes considered sensitive to enhance passenger safety.

During the emergency meeting held on October 19, the government and top airline executives discussed further steps to strengthen security without causing undue disruption to travel, especially during the ongoing festive season. The meeting was attended by senior executives from Air India, Vistara, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and other regional airlines.

The government has also initiated legal action against some perpetrators of the hoax threats. On October 16, a minor from Chandigarh was taken into custody by Mumbai Police for issuing bomb threats to multiple airlines. Authorities are keen to crack down on such individuals to prevent further disruptions.

Why Khalistani threats are so scary?

On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182 Kanishka was bombed by Khalistani separatists which led to the death of 329 people. The plane was blown in midair off the coast of Ireland. On the same day, another bomb went off in a Tokyo airport, killing two Japanese baggage handlers. The bomb was believed to have targeted another Air India flight to Bangkok before exploding prematurely.

The incidents in 1985 were seen as retaliation by Sikh separatists who were said to be seeking revenge for the Indian Army’s deadly storming of the Golden Temple a year earlier.