Air India Passenger Arrested for False Hijack Threat on Kolkata-Mumbai Flight
A passenger was arrested for making a false hijack threat on an Air India flight from Kolkata to Mumbai, leading to heightened security measures.
Kolkata, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : A passenger was arrested at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after allegedly making a false hijack threat on an Air India flight bound for Mumbai. The incident occurred shortly before the scheduled departure of Flight AI 2772 on November 12.
According to the Airports Authority of India, a handwritten note threatening a hijack was discovered in the airplane’s restroom. The note warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11:10 AM. A cabin crew member found the note around 10:37 AM, prompting immediate security protocols.
As a precaution, all 105 passengers on board were evacuated, and the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay for a thorough inspection. Multiple security agencies conducted necessary checks to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
The flight, originally set to depart at approximately 10:30 AM, was delayed for several hours while authorities investigated the threat. Once it was determined that there was no real danger, the threat was declared a hoax.
The aircraft was cleared for takeoff and eventually departed for Mumbai at 5:38 PM. The passenger involved in the incident has been handed over to airport police for further investigation, as authorities look into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the threatening note.
This incident follows another recent security scare involving an Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi, which had to make an emergency landing in Jaipur after sending a “squawk 7500” signal, indicating a potential hijacking situation. Reports indicated that this alert was received by Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control, leading to a safe landing in Jaipur.
