After October bomb hoax menace: Fake threats to flights now punishable under Aircraft (Security) Rules | Business News
In the wake of scores of fake bomb threats to flights in October, which had led to significant disruption in the country’s civil aviation operations, the government has made the issuance of such messages a punishable offense under the Aircraft (Security) Rules. The amended rules were notified by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Monday and took immediate effect.
This is the first major change in the country’s civil aviation regulations in a bid to curb the menace of hoax bomb threats to aircraft. MoCA is also pushing for legislative amendments to provide for strict punishment for such fake threats. So far, in the absence of legal provisions dealing specifically with bomb threats to aircraft, such hoax messages have been dealt with in accordance with the country’s criminal laws.
As per the amendment to the Aircraft (Security) Rules, hoax bomb threats would be classified in the highest level of severity—Level 6—under the rules. Level 6 offences can attract a financial penalty ranging from Rs 1 lakh (for individuals) to Rs 1 crore (for an organisation with over 300 employees).
According to the gazette notification detailing the amendment, a new rule with the title “Prohibition to communicate false information” has been added. This new rule states: “No person shall communicate false information so as to (a) 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.”
Additionally, another rule has been inserted which authorises the Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to issue written directions to “refuse admission to any person or group of persons in the aircraft” or “require any person or group of persons to leave the aircraft”. This new rule may be seen as a facilitating provision to ban those behind such threats from flying.
So far, the provisions to ban people from flying were only for unruly passengers, including anyone making a bomb threat while on board. It did not cover those sending bomb threats from outside through calls, social media, or emails.
Indian airlines were hit by a spate of bomb hoaxes in October. The threats, mostly posted by anonymous and unverified social media handles, sent the airlines, airports, and security agencies into a tizzy, and forced a few flight diversions and strict post-landing security checks and screenings in a number of cases. Apart from causing distress and inconvenience to passengers, such bomb hoaxes can lead to severe pressure on the aviation security apparatus and infrastructure, and lead to significant revenue loss for airlines.
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On October 21, Civil Aviation K RAmmohan Naidu had announced that the government planned to take legislative action to deal with fake bomb threats to aircraft and make the punishments harsher to deter pranksters from posting such threats.
Among the moves listed by Naidu were changes to the Aircraft (Security) Rules and amendments to the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation (SUASCA) Act, 1982. According to MoCA officials, SUASCA Act amendments are currently at the inter-ministerial consultation stage.
The SUASCA Act applies mostly to acts of violence or intent to cause violence while the aircraft is operating, Naidu had said in October. MoCA wants the law’s ambit to be expanded in order to deal with bomb threats even when an aircraft is on ground and not operating a flight, and make it a cognizable offence under the Act. Apart from a jail term, the offence is likely to also attract a hefty fine, Naidu had said, adding that the details would be subject to the inter-ministerial discussions.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
