A clear message that all necessary safety checks are carried out before a flight takes off, sends Haris Antoniadis, Head of Air Traffic Control Services.
Speaking on the Alpha Kalimera program against the backdrop of a barrage of bomb threats against flights—which has put authorities across Europe on high alert—Mr. Antoniadis stated that “those who sought to make these threats certainly knew that such a threat would disrupt the airline’s or airport’s schedule”
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He added that this appears to have been their goal, as no device has been found on any aircraft so far.
What happens in the event of threats?
As Mr. Antoniadis explained, in the event of a threat, security units at the airport are mobilized, while airlines have risk assessment committees.
“They determine whether a threat is classified as genuine—that is, ‘red’—which would result in the flight being grounded or, if already in the air, an immediate landing. If it’s a threat that requires further investigation, it’s classified as orange; or if it’s green, meaning the flight is clear and can continue.”
SEE ALSO: What Lies Behind the Barrage of Threats at European Airports: Hybrid Threats, the “Fighters of the Patriarchal State,” and Russia
In the event of a threat against an aircraft in flight, as Mr. Antoniadis explained, air traffic control will ensure that the aircraft is given priority and directed to the nearest airport for landing, which can accommodate it and carry out the required inspections.
If the aircraft is on the ground, however, it will not take off; it will be evacuated, and checks will be conducted on passengers, baggage, and cargo.
“Pilots, crews, and each airline have their own procedures for addressing such risks, in communication with ground control, of course. How each airline handles the situation is based on internal procedures and protocols.”
Security units are directly involved at the airport and in civil aviation, he added, noting that the police will step in to conduct inspections with the team designated for such checks. In such a case, the aircraft may be moved to an isolation area, that is, away from buildings and other aircraft.
He also noted that similar measures were taken recently in Cyprus when a threatening message was received via fax regarding a flight, prompting the authorities to follow the prescribed procedures.
“I can’t say that such a threat is unknown in the aviation world, but it is generally manageable.”
When asked whether airlines inform passengers of any in-flight threats, Mr. Antoniadis noted that he is not familiar with each airline’s specific protocol for notifying passengers, emphasizing, however, that the last thing needed is panic.
SEE ALSO: At least 25 passenger flights across Europe targeted by bomb threats
“Here, passengers hear a noise outside—commotion—and get scared. So it’s not the wisest thing to go out there and say, ‘I have a bomb,’” he noted, adding that you don’t even know if there actually is a device.
“We, as security agencies, will not allow any aircraft to take off without being certain—100% certain—that it is free of a bomb or any other object. The same applies in the air.”
