Bomb threats for flights: Govt mulls no-fly list for hoax callers, identify 'crucial' leads

A SpiceJet Airlines aircraft flies past newly-constructed hotels on the way to landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi

The Centre is mulling steps to prevent hoax threats to commercial flights by considering placing individuals responsible for such actions on a no-fly list, according to a report by TOI citing official sources.

The move to include such individuals in the no-fly list is necessitated by a barrage of threats issued to airlines in the last three days.

In June, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) proposed this idea to the Union aviation ministry. A senior official confirmed efforts to identify the relevant law for this move, reported TOI.

Media reports also indicated that the flurry of bomb threats- more than 14 in the past three days led to a crucial meet by the parliamentary standing committee on transport. The meeting preceded by a discussion between Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and officials from his ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Reports add that aviation officials told MPs about "critical leads" and a few initial suspects had been identified.

Airlines have reportedly pressed the government to address this issue (hoax threats), as it causes inconvenience to passengers, disrupts schedules, and incurs significant costs. Air India is contemplating legal action to recover damages from those responsible for these threats. Both airlines and passengers expect the authorities to enforce the no-fly list soon.

Security at airports and on flights has been increased with additional sky marshals. Authorities are close to catching those responsible for recent hoax calls. "Some people have been zeroed in on," TOI reported citing sources.

Recent hoax calls have impacted flights over several days. On Wednesday, two flights received threats: an Akasa Delhi-Bangalore flight returned to Delhi, and an IndiGo Mumbai-Delhi flight was diverted to Ahmedabad.

Earlier in the week, threats affected at least 10 flights, including an Air India Delhi-Chicago flight which diverted to a remote Canadian town and an AI Mumbai-New York flight which returned to Delhi.