Fine imposed up to ₹1 crore for airline bomb hoax threats

Only two detained after over 600 hoax bomb threats to airlines in October; new rule allows the Director General to issue directions in writing to refuse admission to any person or group of persons in the aircraft

Weeks after hundreds of hoax bomb threats for airlines in the country threw security agencies into a tizzy, the central government has amended the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023 providing a fine of up to ₹1 crore for such offences.

In a gazette notification on December 16, the Ministry of Civil Aviation inserted Section 30A in the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023 that makes it punishable to communicate false information so as to “jeopardize the safety and security of an aircraft, aerodrome or civil aviation facility or both; (b) cause panic among passengers, crew and ground personnel or the general public; or (c) disrupt the civil aviation operation.”

Another new rule inserted is Rule 29A which allows the Director General to issue directions in writing to refuse admission to any person or group of persons in the aircraft or require them to leave the aircraft.

Offences under the two new rules will attract a penalty of ₹1 lakh, ₹50 lakh, ₹75 lakh or ₹1 crore depending on whether the culprit is an individual or an organisation with an employee size of 300 persons.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Parliament, there were a total 999 hoax bomb threats made for airlines from January to November 14, 2024. In October alone there were 666 threats made. However, the new rules will not be enforceable retrospectively.

Importantly, in connection with the spate of hoax calls in October, police teams have been able to detain only two individuals so far - a 35-year-old Jagdish Shriam Uikey, resident Gondia in Maharashtra and 17-year-old from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh.  

Officials explain that Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Act 2024, which has replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934 is not a criminalised law and recognises most offences as non-cognisable where FIRs can’t be registered without the court’s permission and jail term of more than two years can’t be provided. Therefore, there is a proposal before the Ministry of Civil Aviation to also amend the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation Act (SUASCA), 1982 which recognises cognisable offences.

Published - December 17, 2024 06:30 pm IST