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Hoax bomb threats: Aviation safety body meets airline CEOs, says Indian skies ‘absolutely safe’

Over 70 flights operated by Indian airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Vistara received bomb threats this week

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Amid hoax bomb threats, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) held a meeting with the representatives of airlines on Saturday in New Delhi. 

Over 70 flights operated by Indian airlines received bomb threats this week. 

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"Indian skies are absolutely safe. The current protocol is robust and is being strictly followed. We reassure passengers that they should fly without any fear," BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan said. 

Airline CEOs were also among those who attended the meeting. 

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Security aspects and other issues were at the meeting. Reportedly, there were discussions on the standard operating procedures for dealing with bomb threats. 

Standard operating procedures (SOP) for tackling the threats were asked to follow by the Aviation Safety Body. 

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On Saturday alone, over 30 bomb threats were made against flights operated by different airlines in India. 

The investigation has traced the IP addresses, from which some of the threats were issued this week, to places including London, Germany, Canada and the US. The officials are also probing the use of the VPNs by the people to hide their actual locations. 

Fresh guidelines for airlines to deal with bomb threats are also expected to be released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 

An Alliance Air Kochi-Bengaluru flight was among the over 30 flights that received bomb threats on Saturday, said Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL). Flights of Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Vistara, SpiceJet, Star Air and Alliance Air across the country have received bomb threats during the day. 

"Some of our flights operating on October 19, 2024, have received security alerts today. As per safety and security procedures, all passengers had to be deplaned as the local authorities followed necessary procedures," a statement by Akasa Air read. 

On Wednesday a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody by the Mumbai Police for issuing threats to four flights, including international ones, on Monday. 

According to officials, the boy had done it to frame one of his friends over money issues. 

In connection with the threats, dozens of FIRs have been registered by the Mumbai and Delhi Police. 

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu had said on Thursday that initial investigations do not point to a conspiracy and that most of the calls had been "made by minors and pranksters".

"We can't comment on a conspiracy but whatever little we have known, it (the threats) is coming from minors or some pranksters. For very little, petty things, they are trying to issue threats on social media or through phone calls," he said. 

The minister also added that steps will be taken to ensure "strict barriers" so that those trying to do these pranks won't be able to.