**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 702, the Ministry of Civil Aviation reports an increase in hoax bomb threats to airlines in recent years. From 2022 to July 20, 2025, a total of 881 such threats were received by airline operators nationwide. The number of threats per year is as follows: 13 in 2022, 71 in 2023, 728 in 2024, and 69 up to July 20, 2025. In Karnataka, 94 hoax bomb threats were received by airline operators between 2021 and July 20, 2025; no arrests have been made in connection with these threats. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has mandated robust protocols, including the Bomb Threat Contingency Plan (BTCP), to manage these threats in coordination with Law Enforcement Agencies, Central Security Agencies, CISF, and other stakeholders. Every airport has a designated Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) to analyze threats and take appropriate action. BCAS has also issued advisories to all civil aviation stakeholders to maintain robust aviation security infrastructure and ensure public confidence in air travel, thereby minimizing disruption to airline operations and ensuring passenger safety.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and policies relating to civil aviation in India.
Shri Govind Makthappa Karjol: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question regarding bomb threats to airlines.
Karnataka: A state in India where several bomb threats were reported at airports.
Shri Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS): The aviation security regulator in India, responsible for setting standards and monitoring the implementation of security measures.
Airline Operators: Companies that operate airlines and are the recipients of the hoax bomb threats.
Bomb Threat Contingency Plan (BTCP): A detailed plan in place to handle bomb threats at airports.
Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC): A committee designated at every airport to analyze bomb threats and take appropriate action.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 702
th
(To be answered on the 24 July 2025)
BOMB THREATS TO THE AIRLINES
702. SHRI GOVIND MAKTHAPPA KARJOL
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has recorded an increase in bomb threats to
airlines in recent years and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of such threats reported at airports in Karnataka during the
last five years and the number of individuals arrested in connection with the
same along with the legal actions taken against them;
(c) the impact of these threats on airline operations and passenger safety; and
(d) the details of the measures implemented by the Government to prevent
and respond to such hoax bomb threats while ensuring minimal disruption to
air travel?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): As per the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the aviation security
regulator in the country, a total of 881 hoax bomb threats have been received
by Airline Operators since 2022 till 20th July, 2025. The details of such threat
messages are as under:
Year Number of bomb threats received
2022 13
2023 71
2024 728
2025 (upto 20.07.2025) 69
(b): 94 hoax bomb threats were received by airline operators in Karnataka
from 2021 till 20th July, 2025. No arrests have been made for making hoax
bomb threats to airlines in Karnataka.
(c) & (d): BCAS has mandated robust protocols for handling such threats in
coordination with Law Enforcement Agencies, Central Security Agencies,CISF and stakeholders, leading to minimal impact on flight operations. Bomb
Threat Contingency Plan (BTCP), a detailed contingency plan, is in place to
handle such threats. As a part of BTCP, every airport has a designated Bomb
Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) which analyses the threat and takes
action. In order to deal with hoax bomb threats, BCAS has issued advisories
to all the Civil Aviation stakeholders in the country to ensure maintenance of
robust aviation security infrastructure and uphold public confidence in air
travel.
*****