A sky marshal, also called an air marshal, is a plainclothes security officer who travels on selected passenger flights to deal with threats such as hijacking. In India the programme was set up after the December 1999 hijacking of flight IC 814, and the officers come from a specialised unit of the National Security Guard. They travel without announcing themselves, and authorities do not publish which flights carry them.
Updated November 2026 · HappyFares
Most travellers never knowingly meet a sky marshal, and that is by design. Here is what is publicly known about the role, and what it means for you as a passenger.
What exactly is a sky marshal?
A sky marshal is an armed security officer in civilian clothes who sits among ordinary passengers. The idea is simple: if someone tries to hijack the aircraft or attack the crew, a trained officer is already inside the cabin and can respond. Reports describe them as plainclothes officers, which is why you cannot tell them apart from other passengers.
The term sky marshal is common in Indian news, while air marshal is the more widely used international term. Both refer to the same kind of in-flight security role.
When and why did India start the programme?
News reports say India set up its sky marshal programme in the wake of the December 1999 hijacking of flight IC 814 to Kandahar. That event changed how Indian aviation thought about cabin security, and the programme has continued since then.
Did you know? Indian news reports usually say “sky marshal”, while many other countries use “air marshal”. Both terms describe the same in-flight security role.
Who provides and manages the officers?
According to news reports, the officers come from a unit of the National Security Guard, the force that specialises in counter-terror and anti-hijacking work. Aviation security in India is regulated by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and deployment decisions are linked to threat assessments. The government does not publish operational details, so beyond this broad picture, specifics such as training programmes are not something this article can confirm.
In October 2024, after a spell of hoax bomb threats against flights, news reports said the central government had decided to raise the number of sky marshals sharply, with a fresh batch for newly added sensitive international routes. Reports differed on the exact scale and no official figure is published. The reports did not give a public list of flights, and none is available.
Will there be a sky marshal on my flight?
There is no way for a passenger to know. Reports say deployment is based on threat assessment and focuses on sensitive routes, mainly international, with some domestic ones. Because the details are not published, nobody can honestly say that a particular flight does or does not have an officer on board. Ignore any website or message claiming to tell you.
The number per flight is also not something you can learn as a passenger. Reports quote a range per flight depending on the threat level, but individual flights are not announced.
What should passengers do?
Nothing special. Sky marshals are not there to answer passenger queries, and trying to guess who they are is pointless. The practical advice for any flight is this:
- Follow the instructions of the cabin crew and the airport security staff.
- If you notice someone behaving in a worrying way, or see an unattended item, tell the cabin crew quietly instead of confronting anyone.
- Do not joke about bombs or hijacking at the airport or on board. Such remarks are generally taken seriously by airlines and security staff.
- Stay seated and calm during any security incident, and let the crew and trained officers handle it.
How is a sky marshal different from airport security?
Airport security staff screen passengers and baggage before you reach the aircraft, which is a ground-based layer of protection. A sky marshal is part of the in-flight layer of security. The two do not replace each other. Screening aims to stop a threat from boarding at all, while an in-flight officer is there for the rare case when something goes wrong in the air.
This is also why you should never expect to be told about a marshal at the gate or on the boarding pass. Nothing in your ticket, boarding pass or seat assignment will indicate whether an officer is on your flight.
If you travel often, the practical takeaway is reassuring but unglamorous: the security system works mostly out of sight. Arrive on time for screening, carry only permitted items in your cabin bag, and cooperate politely with checks. Those ordinary steps do far more for a smooth journey than trying to work out who is who in the cabin.
Common Questions
Are sky marshals armed?
News reports describe them as armed plainclothes officers. Details of what they carry are not made public.
Can I ask the crew if a sky marshal is on board?
You can ask, but the crew will generally not confirm it. Their presence is not announced.
Are sky marshals only on international flights?
Reports say they are mainly on international routes and a few sensitive domestic routes. No official list is published.
Do sky marshals make flying safer for passengers?
They are one of several layers of aviation security, along with airport screening and crew training. They are not visible, so you will not notice them.
Who regulates aviation security in India?
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is the regulator for civil aviation security in India.
Does ticket price depend on whether a flight has a sky marshal?
No. Fares are driven by demand, timing and fare family, not by on-board security arrangements.
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