As airlines continue to receive hoax bomb threats on social media, here is a look at the security procedure that follows

The past week has been troublesome for the Indian aviation sector, with around 40 flights receiving bomb threats. While all of them later turned out to be hoaxes, airlines have suffered financial losses and flight disruptions due to the security procedures that must be followed in such incidents.

Bobins AbrahamUpdated: Oct 19, 2024, 10:43 IST

2 min read

What is the security procedure after an airline receives a bomb threat

CREDIT: BCCL

An Air India Express flight from Dubai to Jaipur has become the latest to be hit by a hoax bomb threat as the Indian aviation sector continues to battle flight and airport operation disruptions over the past week. Air India Express flight IX-196, with 189 passengers on board, had to make an emergency landing at Jaipur in the early hours of Saturday after receiving a bomb threat.

As airlines continue to receive hoax bomb threats on social media, here is a look at the security procedure that follows CREDIT: FLIGHT RADAR 24

Around 40 hoax bomb threats in a week

The flight landed safely at the airport at 1:20 am, and after the plane was checked thoroughly, nothing suspicious was found. The bomb threat came hours after another Tata Group-owned airline, Vistara's Delhi-London flight, was diverted to Frankfurt in Germany under similar circumstances.

The past week has been troublesome for the Indian aviation sector, with around 40 flights receiving bomb threats through social media. While all of them later turned out to be hoaxes, airline operators have suffered financial losses and flight disruptions due to the security procedures that must be followed in such incidents.

As airlines continue to receive hoax bomb threats on social media, here is a look at the security procedure that follows CREDIT: BCCL

Security procedure in bomb threats

Countries across the world follow a somewhat similar security procedure if there is a bomb threat to an airline within its geographical area.

One of the first rules when it comes to bomb threats to flights is to treat them as serious until proven otherwise.

Also read: Here��s how much the hoax bomb threats costs airlines

Flights diverted to nearest airport

If the flight is still airborne, it is diverted to the nearest airport, even if it isn't the destination it was flying to. An emergency is declared at the arriving airport, and the flight involved is granted priority landing. Emergency services, including ambulances, are kept on standby for the arrival of the said flight.

As airlines continue to receive hoax bomb threats on social media, here is a look at the security procedure that follows CREDIT: BCCL

Screening of passengers, luggage and flight

Once the flight lands at the airport, all passengers and crew are deplaned for a security check. All the baggage on board is also put through another round of screening to look for anything suspicious. The interior of the aircraft is also scanned by security agencies for any concealed objects that could be explosives.

Only once the authorities determine that there is nothing suspicious on the aircraft are passengers and crew allowed to get back on the flight and continue their journey.

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Bobins Abraham

Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.