Brussels effect: Natural flowerpots banned, fakes to adorn airports

Potted natural flower plants will no longer embellish the décor of airport terminals as the country’s aviation safety watchdog has banned such pots, which saboteurs and terrorists can target to rig bombs.

Potted natural flower plants will no longer embellish the décor of airport terminals as the country’s aviation safety watchdog has banned such pots, which saboteurs and terrorists can target to rig bombs.

Potted natural flower plants will no longer embellish the décor of airport terminals as the country’s aviation safety watchdog has banned such pots, which saboteurs and terrorists can target to rig bombs. (Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

The Brussels airport bombing on March 22 prompted the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security’s (BCAS) to adopt measures such as banning natural flower pots, which are brought into terminals from nurseries outside cities, and placing a fail-safe biometric entry system for staff in restricted areas.

The BCAS, which frames policies for airport security, has asked operators to get rid of flowerpots from nurseries inside terminals and, instead, suggested using natural plants inside guarded enclosures or make-do with ornamental, artificial ones.

Airports are known for their tough security but terminal buildings have large, open and vulnerable public spaces with flowerpots and decorative items.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards the majority of airports in India, had flagged the BCAS in December 2015 about the potential danger from flowerpots inside the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

The BCAS has contracted software development companies to install a biometric system in restricted areas where aircraft crew and operator staff frequently enter and exit.

“It won’t impact movement of flyers but airport staff who gave access to highly restricted areas. The BCAS can maintain three-year data of people’s movement in these zones,” a source said.