Kolkata/ Mumbai: Security agencies in Kolkata were placed on high alert on Wednesday after a threatening message was discovered aboard an Air India aircraft preparing to fly to Mumbai, warning of an attempted hijack.
The note, reportedly found in the washroom of the Mumbai-bound flight, claimed that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11.10 am. The discovery came shortly before the plane was due to leave Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, where it had been scheduled to depart at 10.20 am.
According to Kolkata airport director Vikram Singh, the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC) after the message was found. “Security protocols were immediately activated, and the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay for a thorough inspection and necessary precautionary measures,” he said.
All passengers who had already boarded were taken off the aircraft as a precaution. The plane was then moved away from the terminal to an isolated area, where security teams began detailed checks.
Mumbai Police, as quoted by news agency IANS, said the pilot had informed ATC before departure. “The aircraft was moved to an isolation bay, and all passengers were safely evacuated. Security checks are underway,” the police said.
Airport authorities and security personnel launched an immediate probe into the source of the threat. Officials were examining the aircraft, reviewing available evidence and taking precautionary steps to ensure passenger safety before any decision on the flight’s departure.
The incident triggered a major security response at the airport, with agencies treating the warning seriously despite no immediate confirmation of an actual hijack attempt. Further details were awaited as inspections and inquiries continued.
