In recent months, and even earlier, there have been multiple instances of objects being found on railway tracks, including highly inflammable materials such as LPG cylinders, petrol-filled bottles, matchboxes, and more, all capable of causing catastrophic accidents and the tragic loss of numerous innocent lives. These incidents were preceded by attempted sabotage targeting the Vande Bharat Express, as well as stone-throwing incidents at various locations across India.
As this trend of placing inflammable and other hazardous materials on railway tracks began, I alerted all concerned authorities through various platforms that:
- After Indian Army base stations; forward posts along recognised borders and disputed areas like the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LoC) shared with our two persistently hostile neighbours; and Indian Army convoys, the next high-value targets for our external enemies would be Indian Railways.
- This would be followed by targeting the fleet of Indian civilian aircraft.
This nefarious plan serves two key objectives for our external enemies:
- To cause the Indian Railways and the Indian aviation industry to face global reputational damage and experience financial losses, as an obvious result of mass panic, not only among Indian travellers but also international passengers.
- To unleash a reign of terror, both on land and in the skies, involving Indian trains and aircraft.
My initial assessment and alert proved accurate, as an unprecedented security situation unfolded in the skies globally. Specifically, all aircraft with Indian call signs have received a series of hoax bomb threats since 9 October 2024, nearing or surpassing 40 such incidents.
At the time of writing this opinion, Air Vistara Flight UK 17, en route to London Heathrow Airport after taking off from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi at 15:22 IST on 18 October 2024, was reported to be squawking 7700 near Frankfurt about nine hours ago and was seen “descending” according to the online flight tracking app, Flightradar24.com.
The flight status updated by Vistara read:
Diverted To: Frankfurt International Airport
Time of Departure: Fri, 18 Oct 2024, 22:35
Reason: Flight Diverted To Fra Due To Security Reason
The status was later changed to:
Arrival
Scheduled Time: Fri, 18 Oct 2024, 20:20
Expected Time: Fri, 18 Oct 2024, 23:40
Actual Time: Fri, 18 Oct 2024, 23:40
Status: Arrived
The cause remains unknown at this time. However, it is evident that there is an ongoing wave of security threats against Indian airliners, even over European airspace. The UK and German Flight Information Regions appear to be the current favourites for such threats.
For those wondering what “squawking 7700” means: Squawk codes are four-digit codes ranging from 0000 to 7777, set on an aircraft’s transponder. A transponder is an electronic device used to identify and track an aircraft’s position, along with other data, by radar. These unique identifiers allow air traffic control (ATC) units to distinguish between different aircraft. The codes are assigned to pilots by ATC for communication purposes during flight. Their aim is to enhance communication, making it more efficient and thorough. ATC uses this code throughout the flight, as it provides basic information and helps direct the flight.
Each squawk code is unique to each aircraft in the sky, consisting of only four digits, from 0 to 7. Once the code is given to the pilot, it is entered into the transponder so that it appears on ATC screens, pinging with location information. It is crucial that this is done correctly, as it is vital for safety.
Throughout the duration of the flight, ATC monitors aircraft on their screens to ensure that they remain in the correct location and at the correct altitude.
In crowded airspace, squawk codes help ATC safely direct flights, preventing collisions between aircraft. Turning off a transponder or inputting the wrong squawk code could lead to devastating consequences. Additionally, any aircraft without a squawk code is classified as “unidentified,” and immediate security procedures are initiated, including scrambling fighter jets to intercept the unidentified aircraft. The pilots will be contacted via radio and instructed to identify their intent. If no response is received, the aircraft will be warned of serious consequences, including the possibility of being shot down.
Squawk Codes for Emergencies
Since squawk codes are used for communication between pilots and air traffic controllers on the ground, it makes sense that they would also be used in emergency situations. The ICAO has created a set of three squawk codes specifically for emergencies:
- Squawk 7500
- Squawk 7600
- Squawk 7700
While each code signifies an emergency, they each indicate a different type of situation.
Squawk Code 7500
When a pilot enters Squawk 7500 into the transponder, they are signalling to ATC that the aircraft is in trouble due to a hijacking. This code indicates that immediate support is required from ATC and security services. Often, squawking 7500 means that the pilot is no longer in control of the aircraft or has been forced to alter the flight’s course.
Squawk Code 7600
In the event of a radio malfunction aboard an aircraft, communication can be severed, potentially leading to serious safety risks. Since the aircraft cannot verbally inform Air Traffic Control (ATC), the pilot can immediately change their transponder code to Squawk 7600.
This alert notifies ATC that the aircraft has lost radio communication. While the aircraft continues its planned route to the destination airport, ATC can coordinate with other aircraft to ensure safe separation and make any necessary adjustments to facilitate the safe landing of the “mute” aircraft.
Squawk Code 7700
Squawk 7700 indicates a general emergency. This can include any type of emergency, such as mechanical or technical problems or even medical issues. Pilots can enter this code themselves or be instructed to do so by ATC. Ground control will then know that the aircraft is dealing with a serious problem and requires assistance. As the aircraft approaches the destination airport, ground staff can prepare by clearing the runway and ensuring emergency services are on standby to respond to the situation immediately.
While this unprecedented situation is being closely monitored by the civil aviation minister himself on a regular basis, the minister also chaired a high-level meeting with all concerned authorities on 16 October 2024 and strongly condemned any attempts to compromise the safety, security, and operational integrity of the Indian aviation sector.
A minor and his father, hailing from Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, were apprehended by the Mumbai Police on 16 October for issuing hoax bomb threats to four flights on 14 October via the ‘X’ platform. The threats were allegedly made to implicate a friend as revenge for a financial dispute. While the minor has been taken into custody by the Mumbai Police, his father is being questioned as part of the ongoing investigation. The method adopted by the minor to “take revenge” on his friend strikes me as both unique and intriguing, considering the detailed and precise planning required, which would demand extensive knowledge and courage, and his age. The minor is likely aware of the leniency he may receive from the Indian judiciary owing to his status as a minor, especially if this is his first offence.
VPNs can also be used by terrorists making hoax bomb threats to mask their true location. By routing their internet traffic through various servers around the world, VPNs make it difficult to trace the origin of the threat, allowing them to exploit the “location bouncing” mechanism to their advantage.
In my assessment, it would be a grave mistake for the Indian government and its intelligence apparatus to treat this matter lightly, given the ongoing threats from Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He had threatened to blow up an Air India flight on 19 November 2023 and had stated that Indira Gandhi International Airport would be closed and renamed. He had also advised Sikh passengers not to board Air India flights after 19 November 2023. “Sikh people, don’t travel by Air India after 19 November. Your life may be in danger,” said Pannun, the designated terrorist leading the terror outfit SFJ, in a video circulating on social media.
That statement itself suggests the possibility that Pannun has been, or is, in contact with terrorists from other nations and/or has prepared either multiple standalone units of Khalistani terrorists or a combination of such units with terrorists from other global networks.
Pannun’s inflated and delusional ambitions, despite their lack of a coherent strategy, are clear: to incite large-scale communal clashes and leverage the resulting chaos to gain the attention of foreign governments, particularly those of the Anglosphere, including none other than the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which has shielded him and his accomplices despite being fully aware of his contacts, telephonic communications, and the individuals he associates with to further his anti-India agenda.
The Concern
The Supreme Court of India’s refusal to entertain the plea challenging the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security’s (BCAS) decision to allow Sikh passengers to carry kirpans on domestic flights, operating from domestic terminals, is a matter of serious concern.
This is not just significant for its immediate implications; it is crucial because such advisories by the Supreme Court of India equip terrorists like Pannun with opportunities to carry out violent acts on board an aircraft, potentially hijacking it. This also supports my earlier assessment that figures like Pannun, who is despised and alienated by the sensible Sikh community, are seeking alternative methods to harm India, particularly by targeting the aviation sector.
Khalistani terrorist Pannun’s aim is to harm India, since he had openly threatened to blow up an Air India flight. How could such an act be carried out in this advanced era of technology?
Primarily, by hijacking the aircraft. Since there is no restriction on carrying kirpans on flights, terrorists without any criminal background could be selected to board one or multiple flights, appearing as innocent passengers but armed with kirpans. No airline can prevent this, nor can it impose restrictions on the maximum number of Sikh passengers allowed on a flight. No community, including Hindus, would or should ever support such a restriction, out of respect for those who safeguard our nation’s safety, security, and sovereignty.
In my assessment, there is a strong possibility that the Khalistani terror outfit and its leader are using these hoax calls to test the security mechanisms likely to be adopted not only by India but by other nations as well, following their threats.
This kind of planning is done when one or more terrorist groups intend to carry out a mission with absolute precision, leaving no room for error. Once a group of 5 or 6 terrorists hijack an aircraft, or multiple aircraft from different locations, they would take their chosen captives—likely including the elderly, children, and possibly ailing passengers (which they may not know about until after boarding)—as hostages. It’s almost certain that any flight would have elderly, child, and female passengers.
Air marshals would have to think carefully before attempting to neutralise them, as the safety of the hostages would be their priority. This hesitation would inevitably cause a defensive delay. I am confident that the Khalistani terror outfit, along with the designated terrorist Pannun, are closely monitoring passenger loads on various routes on a daily basis.
Although they may not succeed in entering the cockpit, they could still coerce the pilots into diverting the flight to a destination of their choice or force them to continue flying until the fuel is entirely depleted, causing the aircraft (or multiple aircraft) to crash over land or water.
In my assessment, the Khalistani terrorists, working hand-in-hand with the ISI, are in close contact with various global terror modules. It is highly likely that they are planning to completely outwit and paralyse not only the global intelligence community but especially the Indian intelligence apparatus, potentially with onboard support from nationals of other countries.
What I assess is that they are planning to replicate 9/11, with their significant influence over Justin Trudeau and the unimaginable support from the US, amid an unprecedented diplomatic row between India and Canada. The Five Eyes and NATO countries are primarily controlled by the US.
No one other than the FBI is shielding the designated terrorist Pannun and his accomplices, completely ignoring their open threats and terrorist activities, along with the irrefutable fact that Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, after illegally entering Canada as a “plumber,” openly appeared in various forms of media between 2015 and 2017. In a viral video from that period, the slain terrorist is seen firing an AK-47 at a training camp in British Columbia, Canada. What “plumber” across the globe flaunts an AK-47 as an essential tool?
It is high time the Indian government acted with all its might to prevent Justin Trudeau, the terrorists’ enabler, from returning to power. At the same time, India should issue a stern warning to the FBI, citing their undeniable attempt to threaten India’s sovereignty. India must leave no stone unturned in holding the Five Eyes accountable for protecting a designated terrorist and supporting his terror activities. The International Court of Justice, UNSC, and FATF should be approached, and India’s right to protect its sovereignty, and the safety and security of its citizens, as well as global travellers using Indian airliners and trains, must be clearly articulated.
We cannot and must not remain blind to, or fall prey to, the sinister designs of the fiendish Five Eyes.
Furthermore, the illegal sale of transceivers, including air band transceivers, on online marketplaces must be immediately banned. Unrestricted access to such communication equipment will only aid terrorists in meticulously executing their plans. They can use these devices in conjunction with flight tracking apps, which provide real-time data such as an aircraft’s position, ground speed, and altitude. This vital information is often crowdsourced from individuals globally who host ADS-B receivers. Despite the negligible delay in data transmission as a security measure, subversive elements could exploit readily available air band transceivers to mislead or interfere with pilots, potentially causing mid-air collisions.
Today’s tech-savvy subversive elements could initially block authentic ATC signals under different Flight Information Regions (FIRs) using RF power amplifiers. Then, posing as air traffic controllers from a remote location, they could misguide pilots to alter their altitudes and bearings, leading to a mid-air collision between two or more passenger aircraft. This could occur simultaneously in different parts of Indian airspace. We must not forget how a few weeks of access to technology by terrorists resulted in the 9/11 attacks.
These risks are compounded by a research study published by Oxford University, which revealed that the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) equipment installed in cockpits is susceptible to malfunction.
Thus, due to the increased traffic load, the risk of midair collision in a Reduced Vertical Separation Minima (RVSM) environment for aircraft following Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) increases with faulty Traffic Advisories (TA) issued by the TCAS.
Finally, a complete recalibration and reconstruction of our security system must be implemented on a war footing. This should include the replacement of the utterly ineffective, extremely costly, time-consuming, and sabotage-prone “Kavach” anti-collision system in Indian Railways with ADS-B technology.
Arya Ghosh is a National Safety, Security, Aviation and Avionics Analyst. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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