A hijack scare disrupted operations at Kolkata airport on Wednesday after a threatening message was discovered aboard an Air India flight scheduled to depart for Mumbai. The aircraft, carrying 105 passengers, was immediately diverted from the runway to an isolation bay following the discovery, airport officials confirmed.
Incident Details
The incident occurred around 10:30 AM local time. A police official at the airport, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "When the pilot of Air India flight AI 772 was preparing for takeoff, cabin crew members spotted the hijack threat written on the lavatory mirror. It is suspected that the message was written using lipstick."Following the discovery, airport authorities adhered to standard security protocols and moved the aircraft to a designated isolation bay away from the main runway. A thorough search of the aircraft is currently underway. It could not be immediately confirmed whether the passengers had been deplaned for safety reasons.
Investigation and Security Measures
Personnel from the airport police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are present at the scene, conducting extensive checks both inside and outside the aircraft. Authorities are investigating whether the threat is genuine, a prank, or the result of a misunderstanding.Airport sources indicated that strict security regulations are in place for such incidents, and the precautionary measures were taken to avoid any risk to passengers. A decision regarding the flight's next course of action will be made once the search is completed.
Meanwhile, the incident caused a temporary disruption to flight operations at the airport. Authorities have since brought the situation under control, and other flights are operating normally.
