#Murlidhar Mohol statement

[townpostin]

Jharkhand's Air Passenger Traffic Soars: 10.64% Surge in Domestic Travel

Regional Connectivity Scheme Fuels Growth with New Routes on the Horizon Jharkhand witnesses a remarkable increase in domestic air travel, with passenger numbers climbing from 24.79 lakh to 27.43 lakh in the past year, signaling robust growth in the state’s aviation sector. RANCHI – The Ministry of Civil Aviation has disclosed a significant uptick in Jharkhand’s air connectivity, revealing a…

[global-newz]

Indian Airlines Face Surge in Hoax Bomb Threats, Disrupting Flight Schedules

India's aviation sector has been grappling with an alarming rise in hoax bomb threats, as nearly 1,000 such threats were reported this year by mid-November. The surge has caused significant disruption in flight operations, with over 500 hoax threats occurring in the last two weeks of October alone, as revealed by Deputy Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol in a statement to the Indian Parliament.

This dramatic increase marks a stark contrast to the previous year, with the number of threats being nearly ten times higher than in 2023. Despite these numerous threats, authorities have confirmed that no actual danger was detected at any airport or on any aircraft in India.

The increase in bomb hoaxes has wreaked havoc on flight schedules, forcing delays and diversions. Several flights, including international ones, have been impacted. For example, in October, Singapore's Air Force was deployed to escort an Air India Express plane after receiving a bomb threat, and an Air India flight en route from New Delhi to Chicago had to make an emergency landing in Canada, where passengers were eventually flown to Chicago by the Canadian Air Force.

Between 2014 and 2017, Indian authorities registered just 120 bomb hoax alerts at airports, with half of them targeting the major airports in Delhi and Mumbai. However, the number of such threats has skyrocketed in 2023, with a substantial portion occurring in the latter half of the year.

In response to these threats, Indian authorities have stepped up their security measures. Police have filed 256 complaints and made 12 arrests in connection with these incidents. India's airports have a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee that evaluates each threat's severity and coordinates with local law enforcement and emergency teams to ensure passenger safety. This includes the involvement of bomb disposal squads, sniffer dogs, and medical teams, which, while essential for security, can lead to considerable delays and financial losses for airlines and security agencies alike.

The rise in hoax bomb threats comes at a time when India's aviation industry is experiencing substantial growth. Last year, over 150 million passengers flew domestically, and more than 3,000 flights depart and arrive daily across the country's 150 operational airports, including 33 international ones. Despite the recent disruptions, the Indian civil aviation ministry remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of air travel across the country.