In the instance of an in-flight bomb threat, multiple exhaustively coordinated security response plans are initiated to protect passengers and minimize risks to the lowest level. It involves concerted efforts by the flight crew, air traffic control, the police, and emergency responders. Here are the standard procedures followed in this situation:
1. Pilot Notification and First Response
The crew is alerted and the pilot follows a checklist for bomb threats.
The pilot then determines to either divert, return to the airport that he departed from or continue flying the flight awaiting further instructions coordinating with ground authorities depending on the nature of the threat being a phone call written note or suspicious object.
2. Contacting Ground Control
The pilot contacts air traffic control, which forwards a report to the involved aviation and security agencies.
ATC clears the flight with preference and can route or altitude it in a separate pattern to prevent other air traffic from possibly being affected.
3. Diversion to a Safe Airport
If feasible, the plane must be rerouted to the nearest accessible airport; there are bound to be more than enough personnel to handle the security detail, as well as a bomb disposal team, and then the ground control makes contact with the emergency services to alert an airport to readiness to land. It will switch on the alarm procedures for bombing at the airport, closing down any recommended runways.
4. Evacuation of Passengers and Crew
The crew may evacuate the plane on landing as a precaution. The flight crew keeps the passengers calm and follows the evacuation instructions.
Some passengers are held aboard for initial assessments if the bomb threat seems not to be credible.
5. Bomb Disposal And Security Checking
A bomb squad scans the aircraft using such devices as sniffer dogs and X-ray scanners to detect any sources of threats.
Each passenger, luggage, and cargo is also screened for suspicious items
6. Investigation and Police Involvement
Aviation security and intelligence agencies, and other police launch an investigation tracing the source of the threat.
In the event of a credible threat, law enforcement and federal agencies can prosecute the individuals involved for crimes committed. Furthermore, flight information and transmission records are scrutinized to identify the people on the flight and who might be participating in suspicious activity.
7. Passenger Debriefing and Service
In some cases, airlines can make hotel reservations or re-route passengers to other flights if the threat means significant delays.
Leaders debrief passengers depending on whether further investigation is warranted to establish suspects.
8. Coordination with National Security Agencies
Depending on the jurisdiction, national agencies like the FBI in the United States or its equivalents in other countries are also drawn into the involvement. The attack may be deemed as having terrorism facets that would require intervention from country-specific intelligence agencies like the CIA, Interpol, or MI5 if international aspects are involved
A standard procedure that has been formulated to prevent damage and ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and others in the airspace or airport facilities is applied to each incident. It cannot be generalized, but every case does have a priority-included axiom: safeguarding the lives of passengers, crew, and everyone else present in the airspace or airport facilities.
