A suspected hijack threat involving an Air India flight bound for Mumbai triggered heightened security measures at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday morning. The incident came to light shortly before the aircraft was scheduled to take off, leading authorities to evacuate passengers and move the plane to a designated isolation bay for extensive security checks.
According to reports, the aircraft was scheduled to depart at 10:20 am when cabin crew discovered a threatening note inside the aircraft’s washroom. The message reportedly warned that the plane would be hijacked at 11:10 am, prompting airport authorities to activate security procedures immediately.
Kolkata airport director Vikram Singh confirmed that the threat message was found before departure. Following the discovery, authorities asked all passengers who had boarded the aircraft to disembark as a precautionary measure.
In an official communication, airport authorities said a hijack-related note was recovered from the lavatory of an Air India aircraft operating on the Kolkata-Mumbai route. The aircraft, identified in the airport statement as AI 2772, was an Airbus A320 with registration number VT-TNH. Security agencies were immediately informed, and the prescribed safety protocols were put into operation.
After the passengers were evacuated, the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay for a comprehensive security examination. Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), along with specialised airport security teams, conducted detailed checks of the aircraft.
The inspection covered different sections of the plane, while passengers’ baggage was also examined as part of the security operation. Officials said that no suspicious object had been discovered during the search up to 1:30 pm.
Airport security personnel also began gathering information from passengers to establish whether anyone had noticed unusual activity before or after boarding. Such questioning is part of the standard response to potential security threats involving aircraft.
Meanwhile, police and other security agencies have initiated an investigation to determine who left the threatening message inside the aircraft’s washroom. Investigators are expected to examine relevant security information and passenger details to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Authorities are following established aviation security procedures to ensure the aircraft is safe before making any further operational decisions.
The incident caused a temporary security alert at Kolkata airport, although officials continued to monitor the situation as inspection and investigative procedures progressed.
Air India had not issued any official statement regarding the incident at the time of filing this report.