How to handle a plane bomb threat

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Bomb threats or suspicious items should always be taken seriously. How quickly and safely you react to a bomb threat could save lives, including your own. What should you do?

While individual protocols may vary among airlines, the bottom line remains the same across the board every threat must be taken seriously.

In the case of airborne bomb threats, an airline, pilot, crew member or passenger will report the alerted of a bomb threat or scare to the airline operating authorities. The first and best protocol would then be to divert the flight to the nearest suitable airport.

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From there, a process will be followed to achieve an ideal ‘all clear’ on the affected flight. 

According to Intercon Security’s Bomb Threat plan, police and security professionals have developed a 5-step process for effectively dealing with bomb threats. The five steps are:

1. Receiving the threat, and notifying the Control Point – whether it be the cockpit in an aircraft or the security officials in an airport building. 

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2. Evaluation of the call by the Control Point, and determining which of the following steps is required – The steps can require one of the actions to be taken out: 
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An evacuation

3. A search of the premises.

4. If necessary, evacuation of the premises in an orderly manner.

5. All clear will be given as soon as the five-step security protocol has been executed without complications. 

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A man has been arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi for allegedly raising a false alarm in a Johannesburg-bound Kenya Airways plane forcing the flight to abort take off.

The busy airport was momentarily put on lock down after the scare.

The passenger reportedly shouted ‘bomb’ during an argument, causing a scare in the plane which was taxing ready for take-off.

The man has been handed over to the Anti-Terror Police Unit for further interrogation as the airport remained on temporary lockdown after all flights were grounded for re-screening.

The Kenya Airways in a statement confirmed the incident which they termed as an ‘unfortunate bomb scare’.

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Evidently, even a hoax can result in jail time, since the perpetrator’s actions trigger real practical and economic consequences. Sending threats are seen as consistent with terrorist efforts and tactics to attack critical infrastructure.

Especially in the volatile terrorism climate of late, which has seen too many terrorist attacks in tourist hotspots, airports and train stations over the past two years, bomb and other security threats are not taken lightly.

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