Govt to double Air Marshal deployment amid rising bomb threats on flights

In response to an increasing number of bomb threats targeting flights, the central government has announced plans to double the deployment of Air Marshals on sensitive routes. This move comes after a growing number of threats were reported, with many claims made through social media channels.

A senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed the decision, citing assessments of the escalating risks and intelligence reports that indicated heightened threats to aviation security. According to the official, the new deployments will focus on international routes that have recently been classified as sensitive, based on input from intelligence agencies. These routes will include both new international destinations and select domestic flights.

The Air Marshals, also known as sky marshals, are armed security officers who travel undercover on passenger aircraft. Their primary role is to prevent hijacking and ensure the safety of passengers. In India, the concept of Air Marshals was introduced in 1999 following the hijacking of Air India flight IC 814 to Kandahar. Since then, their role has expanded to cover various international routes and sensitive domestic flights.

A specialized unit from the National Security Guard (NSG), trained in anti-terror and anti-hijacking operations, has been tasked with carrying out these duties on key routes. Sky marshals are typically stationed on flights heading to sensitive destinations such as Kabul, Afghanistan; Kathmandu, Nepal; Colombo, Sri Lanka; several routes in Canada; and certain Middle Eastern countries.

On average, the number of sky marshals per flight ranges from two to six, depending on the perceived threat level. These officers are armed with loaded firearms and have the authority to act in-flight to neutralize any hijacking attempt or security breach.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also called for a high-level meeting following over ten bomb threats that were received on social media platforms this past Monday and Tuesday. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held discussions with officials from the Bureau of Civil Aviation, the CISF, and other key agencies involved in airport security to assess the situation and take further action to ensure passenger safety.