Mr Naidu mentioned steps are being taken after discussions with stakeholders.
New Delhi:
After practically 100 flights acquired bomb threats in seven days since October 14, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has mentioned security is the federal government’s high precedence and guidelines are being amended to place individuals who make such calls on the no-fly listing. Making such threats can even be made a cognisable offence, with provisions for punishment and fines.
Addressing a press convention on Monday, Mr Naidu mentioned though the threats have turned out to be hoaxes, there’s a strict protocol that’s adopted by his division and airways. “It is a really delicate state of affairs with regards to such threats, there’s a global process that we have now to observe,” he mentioned.
The minister mentioned a number of conferences have been held with stakeholders for the reason that spate of calls started and amendments are being thought of within the Aircraft (Security) Rules in order that the individuals making such threats might be placed on the no-fly listing after they’re recognized.
The different strategy, Mr Naidu mentioned, is amending the Suppression of Unlawful Acts towards the Safety of Civil Aviation (SUASCA) Act, 1982, and consultations for this are being held with different ministries.
“If you have a look at the final week, eight flights have been diverted. Each menace is assessed individually and our response has been environment friendly and dynamic. We are additionally not compromising on security and safety. Even although most of them are hoax threats, we can not take them calmly. The lives of passengers are vital, the safety state of affairs is vital and protocol is vital. We have enhanced safety at airports,” the minister mentioned.
Emphasising that the protocol could be very inflexible and strict procedures must be adopted, Mr Naidu mentioned a number of conferences have been held with airways and their opinion has been sought to minimise inconvenience to them in addition to passengers.
“We are all working in direction of a standard objective. Even one aircraft getting diverted or delayed shouldn’t be what we would like… There must be some sort of deterrent and that’s what we’re doing with our deliberate amendments to the principles and the Act. We are working with the Ministry of Home Affairs and state legislation enforcement businesses to hurry up the investigations into the threats. The security and safety of passengers and their handy journey is our utmost precedence,” he mentioned.
“With the collective efforts of everybody, we’re going to see a a lot better image within the coming days,” the minister added.
Home Ministry Meeting
A key high-level assembly was additionally held within the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday through which updates have been taken from aviation safety physique Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force, which is accountable for safety at airports.
Officials mentioned Home Secretary Govind Mohan was additionally given particulars of the investigation to this point by BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan and CISF Director General Rajwinder Singh Bhatti.
Over 20 flights acquired bomb threats on Sunday, taking the determine since October 14 to almost 100. The Mumbai Police has additionally taken a 17-year-old boy into custody for issuing threats to 4 flights, together with three on worldwide routes. Police officers had mentioned {the teenager} wished to border one in every of his buddies, with whom he had a dispute over cash.
Over a dozen first data stories (FIRs) have been registered by the Mumbai Police and the Delhi Police in reference to the threats.