Aviation ministry acts on hoax threat issuers: Rs 1 lakh penalty; denied boarding in place now

NEW DELHI: Individuals issuing hoax threats to flights and other aviation facilities will now be fined up to Rs 1 lakh, apart from facing other criminal charges. Following a spate of hoax bomb messages airlines have got this year, the Union aviation ministry has notified new rules to curb this menace.
Also, the Govt has now given Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) authority to both “refuse admission to any person or group of persons in aircraft’ or “require any person or persons to leave the aircraft,” under the new rules “in the interest of security”. So far this year, about 1,000 flights have got hoax threats that have cost airlines dearly and caused tremendous passenger inconvenience.
The notification issued December 9 provides for the two actions by amending the Aircraft (Security) Rules and are in effect now. “29A. Reserved right of admission in aircraft… the Director General (of BCAS) may, if he is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so in the interest of security, issue such directions in writing to refuse admission to any person or group of persons in the aircraft or require any person or persons to leave the aircraft,” it says.
The newly inserted rule 30A says: “Prohibition to communicate false information. No person shall communicate false information so as to (a) jeopardise safety and security of an aircraft, aerodrome or civil aviation facility or both; (b) cause panic among passengers, crew and ground personnel or the general public; or disrupt civil aviation operation.”
Noted aviation lawyer Nitin Sarin says the punishment for violating rule 30A (issuing hoax threats) falls in the highest (sixth) level of contravention and penalties that provides for a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for an individual; Rs 50 lakh for a small organisation; Rs 75 lakh for a medium organisation and Rs 1 crore for a large organisation.