Hoax threat calls

THE dramatic surge in hoax bomb threats targeting Indian airlines is testing the robustness of the civil aviation sector. In the past few days, scores of flights — domestic and international — have received threats that later turned out to be hoax calls. Diversions and delays have resulted in widespread disruption in flight schedules as well as significant losses for the airlines. With the use of virtual private networks complicating the tracking process, the Central agencies have a task at hand to get to the perpetrators. Some threatening posts, it is suspected, originated from the UK and Germany. Recently, the Mumbai Police detained a teenager from Chhattisgarh in connection with threats to three flights. Reassurances of safety of passengers and flight protocols being in place cannot sidestep the issue of holding the hoax callers accountable. They must not go unpunished.

The recurring nature of such threats is a matter of grave concern. It’s not just airlines; in recent months, several hospitals, malls and educational institutions have received threats. The unprecedented rise in these mischievous and unlawful actions in the aviation sector warrants a concerted counter-strategy. The implementation of stricter regulations is being planned. These include placing perpetrators on the no-fly list for five years and incorporating a legal regime with stricter bail provisions and stern punishment. More precise security checks are being considered so that not all threat messages lead to an immediate landing.

Instilling fear and uncertainty, hoax threats are often linked to malicious intent, as an attention-seeking device, mental health issues or a prank. Even fliers have proved to be culprits. There is ambiguity over whether the threats come from an individual, a group, or are copycat acts. Dedicated teams trained to deal with hoax calls and exemplary punishment can be an effective deterrent.