Airline staff calls bomb hoax to teach boss lesson

A disgruntled airline worker has been arrested for allegedly making a bomb hoax threat in Mumbai.

Kartik Madhav Bhat reportedly wanted to “teach a lesson” to his employer, IndiGo – a budget Indian-based airline – after he was reprimanded for poor performance.

Local reports claim that Bhat made a false bomb threat, calling it in to the IndiGo Airlines Office at Indira Gandhi International Airport. After investigators were called to the scene, they uncovered the threat was a hoax.

Following an interrogation, police found that Bhat, a customer service officer, had been called up on his performance and given a verbal notice to improve or lose his job in three months.

Bhat reportedly made the call after being warned, in a moment of frustration.

Police managed to identify the number Bhat made the call from, which was confirmed once police seized the phone.

“The accused, Kartik Madhav Bhat, who was a 'customer service officer' with IndiGo airlines, was caught after investigators traced the call he had made to Pune. He was arrested from his residence," said Sanjay Bhatia, DCP at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Employers can help their stressed-out workers deal with workplace anxieties before a tricky situation arises.

A report from Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that one-third of organisations have formal well-being programs in place, yet under half said well-being was on their senior leaders’ agendas.

HR leaders could consider mindfulness training and one-on-one staff engagement initiatives to ensure their workers are being cared for as they should be.

What strategy is most effective to support staff mental well-being? Share your thoughts below.