NEW DELHI: Amid almost month-old deluge of hoax threats to flights, Air India last Sunday (Oct 27) found an ammunition cartridge in the seat of an aircraft that had flown into Delhi from Dubai . It is not yet known whether cartridge was carried on board at Dubai by a passenger - indicating a security lapse at the airport there - or the same was already in the seat when the aircraft arrived in Dubai for the return flight back home.
"One ammunition cartridge was found in the pocket of a seat of our flight AI916 after it had landed from Dubai at Delhi on Oct 27, 2024, and all passengers had safely disembarked.
A complaint was immediately lodged with the airport police by Air India strictly adhering to the laid down security protocols. We understand the matter is under investigation by the appropriate authorities," said an Air India spokesperson, adding, "Safety and security of our passengers and crew remain the topmost priority for AI."
Since last month, hundreds of flights, both domestic and international, by Indian carriers and a few of foreign airlines have been receiving hoax threat messages. This has disrupted flight schedules, caused huge passenger inconvenience and losses to airlines. While authorities have managed to keep diversions due to these threats at a bare minimum, aircraft have to undergo thorough check on landing after getting a threat. This causes consequential delays.
Meanwhile amid this unprecedented hoax threat situation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security ( BCAS ) which is the nodal agency for aviation security is headless. Zulfiquar Hasan, who was BCAS DG, retired on Oct 31.
Senior IPS officer Amrit Mohan Prasad, director-general of Sashastra Seema Bal , is holding additional charge as BCAS DG.
"A full time BCAS chief is yet to be finalised. Prasad will hold additional charge," said a senior official.
Aviation industry insiders say they hope a full time BCAS is appointed at the earliest given the spate of Bombay hoaxes being received since early Oct. With threats continuing to pour in almost daily, airlines say a full time crisis needs a full time BCAS head.
Without compromising safety, BCAS has tweaked the protocol for handling the current deluge of threats to keep diversions to a minimum.
"One ammunition cartridge was found in the pocket of a seat of our flight AI916 after it had landed from Dubai at Delhi on Oct 27, 2024, and all passengers had safely disembarked.
A complaint was immediately lodged with the airport police by Air India strictly adhering to the laid down security protocols. We understand the matter is under investigation by the appropriate authorities," said an Air India spokesperson, adding, "Safety and security of our passengers and crew remain the topmost priority for AI."
Since last month, hundreds of flights, both domestic and international, by Indian carriers and a few of foreign airlines have been receiving hoax threat messages. This has disrupted flight schedules, caused huge passenger inconvenience and losses to airlines. While authorities have managed to keep diversions due to these threats at a bare minimum, aircraft have to undergo thorough check on landing after getting a threat. This causes consequential delays.
Meanwhile amid this unprecedented hoax threat situation, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security ( BCAS ) which is the nodal agency for aviation security is headless. Zulfiquar Hasan, who was BCAS DG, retired on Oct 31.
Senior IPS officer Amrit Mohan Prasad, director-general of Sashastra Seema Bal , is holding additional charge as BCAS DG.
"A full time BCAS chief is yet to be finalised. Prasad will hold additional charge," said a senior official.
Aviation industry insiders say they hope a full time BCAS is appointed at the earliest given the spate of Bombay hoaxes being received since early Oct. With threats continuing to pour in almost daily, airlines say a full time crisis needs a full time BCAS head.
Without compromising safety, BCAS has tweaked the protocol for handling the current deluge of threats to keep diversions to a minimum.
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