A reported hijack warning discovered inside the toilet of a Mumbai-bound Air India aircraft prompted an emergency security response at Kolkata Airport on Wednesday, November 11, after the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control shortly before take-off, leading to the evacuation of all 92 passengers and a search of the aircraft.
At A Glance:
-
A Mumbai-bound Air India flight carrying 92 passengers received a hijack threat shortly before take-off on November 11.
-
A threatening note reportedly found inside the aircraft’s toilet warned of a possible hijacking.
-
The pilot alerted ATC, following which the aircraft moved to an isolation bay and passengers were evacuated. No suspicious material had been detected in the initial search.
A hijack threat aboard a Mumbai-bound Air India flight triggered a security alert at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport on Wednesday, November 11. The aircraft was preparing for take-off with 92 passengers on board when the pilot received information about the threat and immediately alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Airport authorities instructed the pilot to move the aircraft to an isolation bay. Security personnel then began searching the plane, while all passengers were evacuated and taken to a safe location.
According to preliminary information, a threatening note discovered inside the aircraft’s toilet warned that the plane would be hijacked. The message reportedly came to someone’s notice while the aircraft was waiting for take-off.
The sudden security alert frightened passengers. Several appeared visibly distressed as security personnel escorted them away from the aircraft.
The initial search, however, did not reveal anything suspicious, according to the latest information available. Airport authorities had not issued an official statement on the incident.
Threatening Note Prompts Emergency Response
Sources said the Air India flight was carrying 92 passengers and awaiting take-off clearance when information about the alleged hijack warning reached the pilot.
The pilot immediately contacted ATC and reported the threat. Acting on instructions from air traffic officials, the aircraft was moved to a designated isolation bay for security checks.
The decision triggered an immediate response from airport security personnel. They began inspecting the aircraft while the passengers were taken off the plane.
The evacuation ensured that passengers remained away from the aircraft during the search operation. However, the available information did not establish who discovered the note or how it came to the attention of the flight crew.
Officials had also not disclosed whether the search had been completed or whether the aircraft had received clearance to resume its journey to Mumbai.
Two Consecutive Bomb Threats at Kolkata Airport in October
Wednesday’s hijack alert follows two bomb threats reported at Kolkata Airport on consecutive days in October.
On October 23, airport personnel discovered a bomb threat message written on a piece of tissue paper. The message prompted a security response at the airport.
The following day, October 24, a similar alert emerged aboard an IndiGo flight travelling from Phuket in Thailand to Kolkata. Someone had reportedly written a bomb threat on the aircraft’s washroom mirror.
The message prompted security agencies to conduct an extensive inspection of the IndiGo aircraft.
However, neither search revealed anything suspicious. Both alerts were subsequently found to be hoaxes.
Security Checks Continue After Latest Alert
The latest incident has brought renewed attention to the security alerts reported at Kolkata Airport in recent weeks.
Unlike the two October incidents, which involved alleged bomb threats, Wednesday’s warning specifically indicated a possible hijacking of an aircraft.
The pilot’s prompt communication with ATC led to the aircraft being moved to an isolation bay before security personnel began their inspection.
With 92 passengers evacuated, the immediate priority remained ensuring their safety and checking the aircraft for any potential threat.
No suspicious material had been detected in the initial search, according to the latest available information. The airport authorities were yet to release an official statement on the incident.