NEW DELHI, June 19 (Xinhua) -- In the backdrop of increasing hoax bomb threats to airports, India's civil aviation security body Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has proposed a five-year flying ban on those who issue such threats, officials said Wednesday.
The information was given by BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan in an interview to a local newspaper The Hindu.
Reports said on Tuesday 41 airports in India and over 50 hospitals in Mumbai received email threats warning of a bomb on their premises. However, all of them were found to be hoax calls.
"Such instances have been on the rise in the past two-and-a-half months, including threats received for various airlines. Six men have already been arrested across the country by local police teams," Hasan was quoted as saying. "The BCAS has also proposed a five-year ban on flying for miscreants across all airlines to the ministry of civil aviation."
He said threats have been received through phone calls, notes inside aircraft lavatories as well as emails.
Officials said the airport authorities try to ensure minimal disruption to passenger movements during such threats. The airports have implemented contingency plans and conduct anti-sabotage checks to remain alert.
Over the past two months, a series of hoax bomb threats have been sent to schools, airports and hospitals across the country including the national capital territory Delhi. ■