NEW DELHI: The Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) protocols have been modified to effectively handle the ongoing wave of "random" online threats targeting various Indian airlines , according to news agency PTI citing official sources.
The sources informed PTI that the BTAC protocol has been adjusted, and a thorough assessment based on a new set of 'red flags' is now being conducted.
The CISF and respective airline security have also been instructed to implement "focussed" security protocols for frisking passengers, their baggage, and the aircraft to ensure that nothing is overlooked while preparing a flight, they added.
According to a senior aviation security officer, the new bomb threat assessment process has been introduced in response to the recent deluge of such messages that have affected over 140 domestic and international flights in the Indian aviation ecosystem.
A second officer stated that the decision to modify and examine threat messages at the BTAC with a refined perspective was made following a recent meeting of various civil aviation stakeholders, including the civil aviation ministry, BCAS, CISF, airline and airport operators, intelligence agencies, and the police department.
While security remains a top priority when such messages are received, some flag indicators used to classify a bomb threat as specific or a hoax have been modified based on an analysis of each threat's specifics and recent trends, the sources added.
When it is determined that a bomb or hijack threat message posted on social media was published "without any rationale," the BTAC will categorize it as "non-specific or hoax" to avoid unnecessary harassment and wasted time for passengers and airline crew, they explained, without providing specific details due to operational reasons.
However, there will still be instances where a message or call is deemed "specific," but this will not be done on a large scale, the sources noted.
Previously, if the threat message contained a specific flight number, such a claim was classified as "specific," and all counter-terrorist and anti-hijack protocols were activated, including diverting or emergency landing the targeted flight and subjecting the aircraft to anti-sabotage checks after landing and isolating it in a designated apron or bay, the sources explained.
The passengers on the "specific" declared flights were held at the terminal building until their luggage and the aircraft underwent a thorough security check, and the threat was confirmed as a hoax, according to sources.
The BTAC, which convenes in response to bomb threat calls to aircraft or airports, declared bomb threat messages sent to 30 flights of Air India , Vistara, and Indigo as "hoax or non-specific" on Monday night at seven airports across the country.
The threat was deemed "non specific" as it was discovered that a single X handle posted these "bombs onboard" messages for 10 flights of each of the three carriers within a span of 56 minutes.
Meanwhile, aviation security officials anticipate that these new measures will help alleviate "some" of the issues caused by these fake social media or phone call messages.
According to a cyber security official, some of these threats originate from Internet connections activated through virtual private networks (VPNs), and many of the handles, particularly on X, were created only a few hours or days before posting the threats to various airlines. To date, approximately 20-25 such handles have been suspended or restricted.
The sources informed PTI that the BTAC protocol has been adjusted, and a thorough assessment based on a new set of 'red flags' is now being conducted.
The CISF and respective airline security have also been instructed to implement "focussed" security protocols for frisking passengers, their baggage, and the aircraft to ensure that nothing is overlooked while preparing a flight, they added.
According to a senior aviation security officer, the new bomb threat assessment process has been introduced in response to the recent deluge of such messages that have affected over 140 domestic and international flights in the Indian aviation ecosystem.
A second officer stated that the decision to modify and examine threat messages at the BTAC with a refined perspective was made following a recent meeting of various civil aviation stakeholders, including the civil aviation ministry, BCAS, CISF, airline and airport operators, intelligence agencies, and the police department.
While security remains a top priority when such messages are received, some flag indicators used to classify a bomb threat as specific or a hoax have been modified based on an analysis of each threat's specifics and recent trends, the sources added.
When it is determined that a bomb or hijack threat message posted on social media was published "without any rationale," the BTAC will categorize it as "non-specific or hoax" to avoid unnecessary harassment and wasted time for passengers and airline crew, they explained, without providing specific details due to operational reasons.
However, there will still be instances where a message or call is deemed "specific," but this will not be done on a large scale, the sources noted.
Previously, if the threat message contained a specific flight number, such a claim was classified as "specific," and all counter-terrorist and anti-hijack protocols were activated, including diverting or emergency landing the targeted flight and subjecting the aircraft to anti-sabotage checks after landing and isolating it in a designated apron or bay, the sources explained.
The passengers on the "specific" declared flights were held at the terminal building until their luggage and the aircraft underwent a thorough security check, and the threat was confirmed as a hoax, according to sources.
The BTAC, which convenes in response to bomb threat calls to aircraft or airports, declared bomb threat messages sent to 30 flights of Air India , Vistara, and Indigo as "hoax or non-specific" on Monday night at seven airports across the country.
The threat was deemed "non specific" as it was discovered that a single X handle posted these "bombs onboard" messages for 10 flights of each of the three carriers within a span of 56 minutes.
Meanwhile, aviation security officials anticipate that these new measures will help alleviate "some" of the issues caused by these fake social media or phone call messages.
According to a cyber security official, some of these threats originate from Internet connections activated through virtual private networks (VPNs), and many of the handles, particularly on X, were created only a few hours or days before posting the threats to various airlines. To date, approximately 20-25 such handles have been suspended or restricted.
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