Air India Flight Receives Hijack Threat Before Take-Off at Kolkata Airport; Aircraft Moved to Isolation Bay

India: A Mumbai-bound Air India flight was grounded at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday morning after a hijack threat was discovered inside the aircraft shortly before its scheduled departure. All passengers were evacuated and the aircraft was moved to a designated isolation bay for an extensive security inspection.

The incident involved Air India Flight AI-772, which was scheduled to depart Kolkata for Mumbai at around 10:20 am. According to reports, the aircraft was preparing for take-off after passengers had boarded when cabin crew members discovered a threatening message inside one of its lavatories.

The message reportedly warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11:10 am. Some reports suggested that the threat had been written on the lavatory mirror using lipstick.

Following the discovery, the pilot immediately alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC), prompting airport authorities to activate emergency security protocols. The aircraft's departure was suspended, and all passengers were safely deboarded. The plane was subsequently moved to an isolated parking bay to allow security agencies to conduct a comprehensive search.

Kolkata airport director Vikram Singh confirmed the incident and said that the relevant security agencies had been alerted following the discovery of the threatening message.

Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), bomb disposal squads and the fire brigade were deployed at the airport. Security teams began a detailed inspection of the aircraft, including its passenger cabin, overhead compartments, lavatories, baggage areas and other sensitive sections.

Authorities also initiated additional baggage checks as a precautionary measure to rule out the presence of any suspicious objects or explosive materials.

Meanwhile, police and other security agencies launched an investigation to establish who had written the threatening message and how it had been placed inside the aircraft. CCTV footage from the airport premises and available surveillance recordings are being examined to identify the individual responsible for the threat.

The aircraft was operating under the Air India network, although some reports noted that it carried the former Vistara livery following the merger of the two airlines.

Authorities treated the threat as a serious security matter and prioritised a thorough inspection of the aircraft before allowing any further operations.

The incident occurred just minutes before the scheduled departure, when passengers had already boarded the aircraft and the flight was preparing to leave for Mumbai.