A suspected hijack threat discovered inside an Air India aircraft at Kolkata airport on Wednesday, November 11, triggered a major security response shortly before the flight was scheduled to depart for Mumbai. The aircraft was moved to an isolation bay, and passengers and crew members were taken off as security agencies began inspection procedures.
The incident involved Air India flight AI 772, which was scheduled to operate from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata to Mumbai. According to airport officials, a threatening message was found inside the aircraft's washroom shortly before its scheduled departure at 10.20 am. The message reportedly warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11.10 am.
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Threat message discovered before departure
The message was reportedly noticed on a mirror inside the aircraft's washroom while the flight was preparing for take-off. The discovery raised concerns about the safety of the aircraft and everyone on board.
After being informed about the message, the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control. The alert prompted airport authorities to activate the required security procedures. The situation was treated as a potential security threat, and precautionary measures were initiated without delay.
The aircraft was not allowed to proceed with its scheduled departure. Instead, authorities arranged to move it away from the regular parking area to an isolation bay for further examination.
Passengers and crew evacuated
All passengers who had boarded the aircraft were asked to disembark. Crew members were also taken off the plane as part of the precautionary response.
The evacuation was carried out to allow security personnel to inspect the aircraft without putting passengers and staff at risk. Moving the aircraft to an isolation bay also provided a designated area for security teams to conduct their checks.
The immediate priority for airport authorities was to ensure the safety of passengers, airline employees and other airport personnel. The flight remained grounded while the security response was underway.
Security teams begin inspection
Security personnel were deployed to examine the aircraft and assess the threat. Reports indicated that security staff, fire brigade personnel and bomb squad members were involved in the response. The deployment of specialised teams formed part of the precautionary measures taken after the threat message was discovered.
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The inspection was intended to establish whether the message was linked to any actual security risk. Authorities also needed to determine whether any suspicious object or other potential threat was present inside the aircraft.
At the time of the initial reports, the outcome of the inspection had not been officially confirmed. Details about the person responsible for writing the message and the reason behind it were also not available.
Flight operations affected
The incident disrupted the scheduled departure of the Kolkata-Mumbai service. Since the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay and subjected to security checks, it could not continue its journey as originally planned.
Such security alerts require airport authorities and airline personnel to follow established procedures before an aircraft can be cleared for departure. Even when the credibility of a threat has not been established, officials must take appropriate precautions and complete the necessary inspections.
Passengers affected by the disruption may have to wait for further information from the airline regarding the flight's departure arrangements. The initial reports did not provide a confirmed revised departure time.
Investigation into the threat
Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the message and establish how it was written inside the aircraft. The investigation may also help determine whether the threat was intended to disrupt flight operations or represented a genuine danger.
As the security checks were continuing, officials had not announced a final conclusion about the threat in the initial reports. The aircraft's clearance and the flight's operational status were therefore dependent on the outcome of the inspection.
The incident once again highlights the importance of aviation security procedures at busy airports. Threat messages involving commercial aircraft are treated seriously because passenger safety and the security of flight operations are major priorities.
For the passengers and crew aboard Air India flight AI 772, the immediate response involved evacuation and the transfer of the aircraft to an isolation bay. Further official information is required to establish the final outcome of the inspection and the progress of the investigation.
