Courts to impose severe penalties for spreading fake terrorist news related to civil aviation

Individuals who fabricate or intentionally spread false terrorist information related to civil aviation, thereby endangering flight safety, will face severe penalties, according to a new judicial interpretation.

This interpretation, released jointly by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, will take effect on Thursday, aiming to assist judges and prosecutors in handling criminal cases related to civil aviation flight safety more effectively.

Luo Guoliang, chief judge of the SPC's Fourth Criminal Division, highlighted the importance of aviation safety, stating, "Ensuring the safety of civil aviation flights is crucial for protecting the lives and property of people, as well as for maintaining social harmony and stability."

In recent years, there have been sporadic incidents involving the fabrication and deliberate dissemination of false terrorist threats. Additionally, disruptive behaviors such as onboard altercations have attracted significant public attention, he noted.

In March 2024, for example, a man, upset about missing his flight, falsely claimed there was a bomb on the plane while speaking with airline employees using the information desk phone. This led to all passengers being deplaned for a second security check, delaying the flight by about two hours.

To address these issues, the seven-article interpretation defines punishments for disruptive behaviors and imposes stricter penalties for those who fabricate or spread false terrorist information related to civil aviation.

For instance, it specifies that actions that disrupt the normal operation of civil aviation flights or airports, or require intervention by public security, armed police, fire services, health quarantine, and other agencies, are considered criminal offenses. If these behaviors lead to significant social disruption or major economic losses, the perpetrator will face imprisonment of at least five years.

Additionally, the interpretation clarifies the jurisdiction of courts over criminal cases that threaten civil aviation flight safety.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, in 2025, the civil aviation industry transported a total of 770 million passenger trips, and law enforcement agencies in this sector handled 1,081 in-flight incidents, a 6.5 percent drop compared to the previous year. The incident rate per 10,000 flights fell by 17 percent.