Dainik Nation News Portal
In total, the financial impact of the hoax is projected to exceed Rs 3 crore, factoring in additional landing charges, hotel accommodations for over 200 passengers, compensation for missed connections, aircraft grounding, and crew adjustments.
This incident is just one of many bomb threats plaguing airlines recently. According to reports, around 40 false bomb threats have been made since Sunday, severely impacting airlines across the board. Senior officials estimate the cost of these hoaxes across the industry could be as high as Rs 60-80 crore.
A similar incident occurred with another Air India Boeing 777 (VT-ALM) bound for Chicago. The aircraft was forced to land in the remote Canadian town of Iqaluit following a bomb threat, stranding over 200 passengers for three and a half days. Eventually, the stranded passengers were flown to Chicago by a Canadian Air Force A330, with Air India bearing the costs. The total financial impact of this diversion is expected to exceed Rs 15-20 crore.
These hoaxes have disrupted not only operations but also added hefty expenses. Aircraft have been forced to hold or hover near airports for hours while waiting for clearance, burning large amounts of fuel and extending flight times, sometimes causing crew disruptions and further delays.
Airline officials have described these incidents as “financial terrorism” and are calling for stringent action against the perpetrators of such hoaxes, given their severe economic impact.
These bomb threats are part of a larger pattern affecting airlines globally, and they represent a significant operational and financial burden for the aviation industry.
