The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines an airport emergency as ”any occasion or instance, natural or man-made that warrants action to save lives and protect property and public health.” Some examples of Airport Emergency are:
❌ Aircraft defect/malfunctions serious enough possibly to impede safe flight
❌ Sabotage of aviation related equipment
❌ Bomb threats
❌ Dangerous goods incidents
❌ Building fires
❌ Natural disasters
BOMB THREAT
Bomb threat is generally defined as ‘a threat to detonate an explosive or incendiary device to cause property damage, death or injuries, whether or not such a device actually exist.’ Some bomb threat related terms are:
👉 EOD – Explosive Ordinance Device. EOD Personnel are Ordinance Officers trained to determine methods and procedures for locating and rendering safe, all types of explosive ordinance.
👉 IED – Improvised Explosive Device. IED is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. It is commonly used by terrorists or criminals. The three main components of IED are: a time delay mechanism; a detonator (initiator); and an explosive charge (material)
BOMB THREAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT IS ON THE GROUND
If a bomb threat is received when the aircraft is on the ground, the simplest and safest action is to disembark and carry out a full search of the aircraft. While this might result in a significant delay, the fact remains that the possible alternative is much worse. A serious threat may require a precautionary disembarkation which will result in offloading the passengers as quickly and as safely as possible.
A bomb can be planted anywhere in the aircraft. However, below are the three critical areas for a quick search in the event of a bomb threat:
✅ Flight deck
✅ Passenger seating portion
✅ The rear of the aircraft
BOMB THREAT IN-FLIGHT
If a bomb threat is received while in-flight:
🟣 carry out a search, checking those places which are often overlooked during security checks on the ground and where an article might be concealed.
🟣 try and do it discreetly to avoid unnecessary worry for passengers.
🟣 if an article is found, do not move or touch it. Move passengers away from the immediate area and remove any flammable items around, having fire extinguishers ready just in case.
🟣 asking for anyone on board with EOD experience might help because these are terms which experts will recognize. This should however be done discreetly.
🟣 not terrifying the passengers is a good call, but ensuring that they follow the Crews’ orders and are prepared for the situation on the ground is also necessary. This is achieved by providing them with clear information, dished out without dramatizing the situation.
AIRCRAFT LANDING PROTOCOL FOR BOMB THREAT
After a bomb threat is reported, a set of procedures are activated to deal with the threat. According to the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidelines, once a threat against a specific flight is received, the following procedure should be activated:
- Air Traffic Service (ATS) should immediately inform the Crew (where the information was not from the Crew) of the alleged threat.
- The aircraft will be given clearance to land at the nearest aerodrome, and placed as far away from other aircrafts and installations as possible.
- Additionally, best practices embedded in the ASSIST Principle is recommended.
By the ASSIST Principle, we mean:
👉A = Acknowledge the bomb warning, ask for intentions, and provide information regarding next suitable landing aerodromes.
👉S = Separate the aircraft if necessary, and prioritize it for landing. Keep the active runway clear of departures, arrivals and vehicles.
👉 S = Silence the non-urgent calls and use a separate frequency where possible.
👉 I = Inform other airport sections, units, agencies, stakeholders concerned.
👉S = Support the flight by providing any other information requested and necessary, such as type of approach, runway length, etc.
👉T = Time for the crew to assess the situation. Don’t press with non urgent matters.
Conclusively, bomb threats or suspicious items should always be taken seriously. How quickly and safely the reaction to a bomb threat is, could be a determinant in saving lives and properties, including yours as an industry stakeholder.
REFERENCES
- IADCL AEP Manual
- European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Guidelines On Bomb Threat
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Bomb Threat Guidelines
- Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP)
