Hoax Bomb Threats Lead to ₹1 Crore Fines Under New Aircraft Security Rules

In response to a surge in hoax bomb threats targeting airlines, the central government has amended the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023, imposing significant fines of up to ₹1 crore for such offences. This move follows a series of false threats that disrupted security agencies and caused widespread concern across the aviation sector.

On December 16, the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a gazette notification introducing Section 30A to the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023. This new section makes it punishable to provide false information that could:

• Endanger the safety and security of an aircraft, aerodrome, or civil aviation facility,
  
  
• Cause panic among passengers, crew, ground personnel, or the general public,
  
  
• Disrupt civil aviation operations.

Additionally, Rule 29A was added, giving the Director General the authority to issue written directions to deny entry to any individual or group of persons aboard an aircraft or require their removal if necessary.

Under the new regulations, individuals or organizations found guilty of such offences will face fines ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹1 crore, depending on the scale of the offense and the nature of the entity involved. Penalties will vary based on whether the offender is an individual or a larger organization, with fines increasing for organizations employing more than 300 people.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation revealed in Parliament that between January and November 14, 2024, a total of 999 hoax bomb threats were made against airlines, with a particularly high number—666 threats—reported in October alone. However, these new rules will not apply retrospectively.

In connection with the October hoax threats, law enforcement agencies have detained only two individuals: 35-year-old Jagdish Shriam Uikey from Gondia, Maharashtra, and a 17-year-old from Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.

Officials also pointed out that the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Act, 2024, which replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934, does not classify most offences as cognizable, meaning FIRs cannot be filed without court approval, and the law does not impose jail terms exceeding two years. Consequently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is considering an amendment to the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation Act (SUASCA), 1982, which recognizes certain offences as cognizable and provides for more severe penalties.

This legislative amendment aims to strengthen security protocols and deter the growing trend of hoax bomb threats, ensuring greater safety in India's civil aviation sector.