Thu Oct 17 15:10:00 UTC 2024: ## India to Crack Down on Hoax Bomb Threats with 5-Year Jail Term and No-Fly List

**New Delhi, October 17, 2024:** In response to a surge in hoax bomb threats targeting Indian airlines, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is pushing for stricter penalties including a 5-year jail term and a no-fly list for offenders.

The move comes after at least 30 bomb threats were reported across various airlines in the past four days, with 15 threats alone received on Thursday. Affected airlines included Air India Express, Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that consultations are underway to amend the Aircraft Act, 1934, and related regulations to ensure a strong deterrent for those making false threats. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed a 5-year imprisonment for those charged with making hoax bomb threats, which is currently being reviewed by the Law Ministry.

The MHA also proposes placing offenders on a no-fly list to prevent them from traveling by air.

While the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Civil Aviation Act (SUAASCA), 1982, already includes a provision for life imprisonment for threats to aviation safety, officials consider this punishment too severe for hoax calls and unlikely to stand legal scrutiny.

The government is determined to implement stricter measures to combat the growing threat of hoax bomb threats and ensure the safety of air travel in India.

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