Kolkata, November 11: A security alert was triggered at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday after a Mumbai-bound Air India flight received a hijack threat shortly before its scheduled departure.
Flight AI 772 was scheduled to depart for Mumbai at 10:20 am. According to reports, cabin crew members noticed a hijack warning written on the mirror inside the aircraft's washroom shortly before take-off. The message reportedly warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11:10 am.
Following the discovery, the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC), prompting airport authorities to activate security protocols.
The aircraft was moved to an isolation bay for security checks, and all passengers were asked to disembark. Security personnel, fire brigade teams and bomb disposal personnel were deployed as part of the precautionary response.
Kolkata airport director Vikram Singh confirmed that the threat note was found in the aircraft's washroom shortly before departure. He said the passengers were deboarded and the aircraft was moved to the isolation bay.
Security agencies initiated checks to assess the threat and establish the circumstances surrounding the message.
The identity of the person who wrote the warning and the credibility of the threat are yet to be established. Authorities have not confirmed whether the message was a hoax.
The aircraft was kept in the designated isolation area pending security checks.
