Bomb threat in Air India Frankfurt-Delhi flight: Pilot pressed hijack code; plane diverted to Jaipur | India News
Air India flight (Representative image)
NEW DELHI: An Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur on Wednesday following a security alert triggered by a suspected hijack threat.The flight, AI-2030, landed safely and was immediately escorted to a designated isolation bay, adhering strictly to standard operating procedures for aviation security emergencies.Assistant Commissioner of Police (Malviya Nagar) Shiv Dayal said airport authorities had alerted the police about the emergency landing following the threat, news agency PTI reported.Police and security personnel were checking the aircraft in the isolation bay, he added. In a statement, Air India said the aircraft had been cleared by security agencies and that passengers had reboarded after undergoing checks.“Air India flight AI2030 operating from Frankfurt to Delhi on 14 October was diverted to Jaipur following a perceived security concern. The aircraft landed safely in Jaipur. The relevant security agencies carried out the necessary checks and have cleared the aircraft and crew. All passengers were disembarked, underwent security checks, and have since reboarded the aircraft,” the statement read.“Air India teams worked proactively with authorities to minimise passenger inconvenience. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen disruption and appreciate their patience and understanding. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain Air India’s highest priority,” it added.Pilot reportedly used hijack alert codeAccording to preliminary information, the pilot activated Squawk Code 7500, the internationally recognised transponder code indicating hijacking or unlawful interference, while the aircraft was in the Mumbai Flight Information Region (FIR).The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Jaipur, the source said. The number of passengers on board was not immediately known.Following the aircraft’s safe landing, the pilots and passengers were deboarded in a phased manner under security supervision, according to the information available. Passengers and their baggage were undergoing security screening.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Ground teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), airport security agencies and local police cordoned off the isolation bay and began checking the aircraft.The National Security Guard (NSG) were also placed on standby in New Delhi, according to the information provided. However, further details were awaited.In a similar incident in August, an Air India Express flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to Delhi made an emergency landing at Ahmedabad airport after a tissue paper bearing the word “bomb” was found in the aircraft’s lavatory.All 32 passengers on board were safely deboarded at Terminal 2, according to Ahmedabad Police.
