Mumbai: A suspected hijack threat sparked panic and triggered a massive security response at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday morning after a threatening message was discovered scribbled on the mirror of a lavatory aboard a Mumbai-bound Air India aircraft shortly before its scheduled departure.
The alarming message, which warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at a specified time, forced airport authorities to immediately suspend the departure process, evacuate all passengers and shift the aircraft to an isolation bay for an exhaustive security inspection.
According to airport sources, the threatening message was spotted on the mirror inside one of the aircraft’s lavatories while the plane was preparing for takeoff. The message reportedly warned of a hijack at 11.10 am, raising serious security concerns among the crew and airport authorities.
The flight was scheduled to depart Kolkata at 10.20 am for Mumbai. Kolkata Airport Director Vikram Singh confirmed that the threatening note had been discovered and said all passengers who had boarded the aircraft were immediately deboarded as a precautionary measure.
The pilot acted promptly upon being informed about the message and alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC), following which the airport security machinery swung into action. The aircraft was subsequently escorted to a designated isolation bay, away from regular airport operations, to facilitate a comprehensive security sweep.
Personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), along with specialised airport security teams, launched an intensive search operation. Security personnel began examining every section of the aircraft, including passenger cabins, overhead compartments, lavatories, luggage storage areas and other vulnerable spaces, to rule out the presence of explosives, suspicious objects or any other potential threat.
Airport Director Singh said security protocols were immediately activated and the aircraft was being thoroughly examined as a precautionary measure. Authorities were taking no chances despite the threat being conveyed through a handwritten message.
Meanwhile, police and intelligence agencies have initiated an investigation to establish who wrote the threatening message and how it was placed inside the aircraft. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from various locations across the airport to trace suspicious movements and identify individuals who may have had access to the aircraft before its departure.
The possibility of the message being an attempt to create panic or disrupt flight operations is also expected to form part of the investigation. However, officials have not disclosed any preliminary findings regarding the credibility of the threat or the identity of the person responsible.
The incident once again highlights the serious security implications of even an apparently anonymous threat inside an aircraft, particularly when it specifies a purported hijack time. The swift response by the crew and airport security prevented the aircraft from proceeding with its scheduled departure until the necessary safety checks could be completed.
Further details regarding the outcome of the security inspection, the rescheduling of the flight and the progress of the investigation were awaited.
