In response to a surge in bomb threats targeting flights, the central government has decided to double the deployment of sky marshals on flights originating from airports across the country. This decision comes after multiple rounds of consultations and assessments by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), based on inputs from intelligence agencies.
A senior MHA official confirmed that the additional air marshals will be deployed particularly on new international routes classified as sensitive based on intelligence reports.
“The decision to bolster the number of air marshals was taken after reviewing the growing security threat,” the official stated, adding that the move aims to enhance in-flight security against potential hijacking and terrorism.
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Sky Marshals, who are armed plainclothes security officers, have been part of India’s aviation security framework since 1999, following the hijacking of Air India IC 814. These officers are trained to intervene in case of any hijacking attempts, traveling with firearms onboard commercial aircraft.
The National Security Guard (NSG), a specialized anti-terrorism and anti-hijacking unit, deploys these air marshals primarily on international routes and some sensitive domestic routes. Currently, flights bound for regions such as Kabul (Afghanistan), Kathmandu (Nepal), Colombo (Sri Lanka), certain routes in Canada, and several Middle Eastern countries are considered sensitive.
The number of sky marshals on a flight typically ranges from two to six, depending on the assessed threat level.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also convened a high-level meeting following more than 10 bomb threats received via social media in recent days. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu held discussions with the Bureau of Civil Aviation, CISF, and other airport security officials to address the issue.
This increased vigilance underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening aviation security in light of escalating threats and ensuring passenger safety on high-risk routes.
