THE GOAN
PANAJI
A bomb threat received shortly before a flight’s scheduled departure can set off a series of security checks and disrupt travel plans for hundreds of passengers. While the recent threat to a Goa-bound IndiGo flight was later confirmed to be a hoax, the incident raises questions about the procedures followed during such emergencies and how prepared Goa’s airports are to handle them. The flight, carrying around 145 passengers, was delayed for nearly five hours on Monday after receiving a bomb threat shortly before its scheduled departure. According to official sources on Tuesday, the flight, scheduled to depart at 5.40 pm, had been fully prepared for take-off when information about the threat was received.
Standard procedures
Explaining the procedures followed in such situations, a senior official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Goa International Airport, Dabolim, said different protocols apply to different types of threats. “There are chemical or hazardous-substance threats, and then there are deliberate threats. For each, we follow standard operating procedures laid down under the Disaster Management Plan,” the official said, adding that these procedures are followed at airports across the country. Although such incidents are not frequent, the official emphasised the importance of being prepared to respond to them.
While such threats may not be frequent, each report calls for a serious response. A senior officer from Alliance Air said all threat calls are treated seriously and acted upon accordingly. However, citing security concerns, the officer declined to disclose specific response procedures. However, the officer expressed confidence in airport personnel’s ability to handle such situations. “The team at the airports are very much ready to deal with these types of situations,” the officer added.
In-flight safety
While airport authorities coordinate the response on the ground, the safety of passengers and crew on board is equally important, particularly when an aircraft is already airborne. Gauri Dhavalikar, First Officer at IndiGo, explains that specific procedures govern how such situations are handled, whether on the ground or in the air. “Bomb threats are taken very seriously, whether the aircraft is on the ground or airborne and also at the airports,” she says. If a warning is received mid-flight, the crew follows the airline’s established standard operating procedures (SOPs) and coordinates with air traffic control (ATC) and airline operations. The aircraft is usually diverted to a designated airport depending on its suitability to handle the situation, the availability of necessary infrastructure and facilities, and the overall safety of the operation, Dhavalikar explains.
Dhavalikar also explains that flight crew follow specific safety protocols, with emergency procedures and drills conducted regularly to ensure they are familiar with the required actions. “There are emergency procedures and drills conducted at least once every six months to ensure that crew members remain familiar with the required actions,” she says. She adds that preparedness depends on effective coordination between airlines, airport authorities, ATC and security agencies. “While such incidents can cause delays and inconvenience, aviation safety always takes precedence over operational continuity,” she says.
Testing preparedness
Emergency procedures, regular training and coordination between agencies are essential to aviation safety. Depending on the situation, airport authorities coordinate with agencies including the AAI, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), local police, bomb disposal teams and ATC to carry out the necessary checks and precautions. While these measures are intended to ensure a coordinated response, their effectiveness ultimately depends on how well they work when an actual emergency arises. A senior official from Dabolim Airport said drills are conducted with prior notice. “There are mock drills conducted with prior notice, where these guidelines are followed,” the official said. However, as Nilesh Shah, past president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), pointed out, preparedness can only truly be tested when an actual situation arises. “We will only know how prepared they are when the situation requires them to act. Hopefully, such a situation never arises,” he said.
Impact on tourism
While airport authorities maintain that procedures are in place to handle such emergencies, passengers may still be left anxious, particularly when a flight is delayed for several hours. Jack Sukhija, president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), said such hoax threats have limited long-term impact on tourism. “They create a temporary scare. The Tourism industry can reassure our guests by pointing out that these are just hoaxes and that there are systems in place to combat such threats,” he said. Shah, however, stressed that passenger safety must remain the priority. “We need to ensure that the guests are safe. Hoax threats like these, even if they turn out to be just a hoax, can spoil the entire mood.”
While Goa’s airports have established procedures and regular drills to handle security threats, the recent incident raises the question of how effectively these measures work if an actual emergency arises. With airport authorities and security agencies responsible for coordinating the response, preparedness is not just about having protocols in place, but ensuring they can be carried out effectively to protect passengers.
