Passenger Safety vs. Financial Consequences: The True Cost of Hoax Bomb Threats to Airlines

On Monday (October 14), three international flights departing from Mumbai suffered major disruptions due to bomb threats. An Air India flight bound for New York was diverted to Delhi, while two Indigo flights bound for Muscat and Jeddah also received similar threats, causing widespread inconvenience to hundreds of passengers.

While these threats were ultimately false alarms, airlines have no choice but to take these incidents seriously for the sake of passenger safety. Unfortunately, the consequences of these threats go far beyond mere delays. The operational and financial impacts on airlines are profound, with passengers experiencing stress and frustration.

Take, for example, the Air India flight from Mumbai to New York. The flight, after taking off, had to be diverted to Delhi following the bomb threat. This caused the airline to postpone the departure of the flight to New York for the next day, while accommodating passengers overnight in hotels in Delhi. The cost of this deviation is staggering.

According to aviation experts, the flight, which was already underway, would have lasted at least two more hours. Since operating costs, including fuel, crew and catering, amount to about ₹12 lakh per hour, this alone would cost the airline an additional ₹24 lakh.

Furthermore, as the flight had been prepared for a transatlantic journey, between 70 and 80 tons of fuel had to be dumped before landing, which not only increased expense but also raised environmental concerns.

In addition to the immediate costs, there are logistical challenges. Flights at foreign airports are meticulously planned, so securing a new landing slot involves coordinating with multiple parties, which could lead to further delays. All 239 passengers on the Air India flight required accommodation, which costs approximately Rs 12 lakh if ​​calculated at a modest Rs 5,000 per person. But the costs don’t end there.

Long-haul international flights, such as the Mumbai-New York route, have limitations on crew duties, which means the airline now needs to arrange a new set of cabin and cabin crew due to the prolonged delay. The domino effect doesn’t just affect those on the current flight. Passengers waiting to board the Air India flight from New York to Mumbai will also face delays, requiring compensation and rescheduling.

Financially, the burden of such disruption is enormous, but the intangible costs are equally significant. Passengers, many of whom are on critical journeys, face stress, anxiety and unforeseen delays. For some, the delay could mean missing a job interview, a doctor’s appointment, or even a family emergency. While these inconveniences are difficult to measure, they represent real costs borne by passengers who have no choice but to wait.

In the end, false bomb threats create a cascade of consequences that go far beyond a temporary disruption. While airlines prioritize safety above all else, these incidents come with a high price beyond their control.