In a startling disclosure, the government has confirmed that Indian airlines have received 69 hoax bomb threats this year alone, up to July 20, 2025 — part of a disturbing trend that has seen 881 such threats since 2022.

The figures were revealed in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply that underscores growing security concerns for civil aviation authorities.

According to Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) data, the number of fake bomb threats has surged dramatically:728 hoax threats in 2024, 71 in 2023, 13 in 2022.

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Despite the spike, the minister assured that strict protocols are in place for threat assessment and management. These include coordination with law enforcement, CISF, central agencies, and airline stakeholders — efforts that have kept operational disruptions to a minimum.

In response to a specific query about Karnataka, the minister revealed that 94 hoax bomb threats were reported from the state since 2021 — but no arrests have been made so far. He added that legal actions and investigations are ongoing, though the absence of any convictions raises serious questions about enforcement and deterrence.

As hoax threats continue to challenge airport security and strain emergency resources, pressure is mounting on authorities to crack down harder on perpetrators and prevent further misuse of national security systems.

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