Kolkata, Nov 12: An Air India hoax hijack threat involving a Kolkata-Mumbai flight triggered a major security response on Wednesday. Authorities later handed a passenger allegedly linked to the warning to airport police for further investigation.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the incident involved flight AI 2772. A cabin crew member discovered a handwritten threat inside the aircraft’s lavatory shortly before departure.
Handwritten Note Triggers Security Alert on Air India Flight
The note warned that someone would hijack the aircraft at 11.10 a.m. A crew member spotted it around 10.37 a.m., prompting an immediate security response.
Authorities directed all 105 passengers to leave the aircraft. Security teams then moved the plane to an isolated bay for a detailed inspection.
Several agencies joined the operation and screened passengers and crew members. They also carried out the required checks to rule out any possible danger.
The flight had originally been scheduled to leave at approximately 10.30 a.m. However, the security operation delayed its departure by several hours.
After completing the inspection, security officials found no credible threat and declared the warning a hoax. Air India then received clearance to operate the flight.
The aircraft finally departed for Mumbai at 5.38 p.m.
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Police Investigate Passenger’s Alleged Link to Threat
AAI said authorities later handed a passenger allegedly connected to the incident to the police at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.
Police have started an investigation to establish who wrote the threatening message and what prompted the warning. Investigators are also examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Earlier Air India Flight Reportedly Triggers Hijack Alert
In a separate incident last month, an Air India flight travelling from Frankfurt to Delhi reportedly made an emergency landing in Jaipur after transmitting Squawk 7500.
According to reports, Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control received the alert before the aircraft landed safely in Jaipur. However, authorities had not immediately disclosed what triggered the signal.
Squawk 7500 serves as an internationally recognised aviation code. Pilots use it to discreetly alert air traffic controllers about a hijacking or unlawful interference involving an aircraft.
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–IANS
