A hijack threat note found in the lavatory of a Mumbai-bound Air India flight at Kolkata airport on Wednesday morning led to all passengers being deboarded and the aircraft being moved to an isolation bay.
The note was found by the cabin crew inside the lavatory of Air India flight AI 2772, an Airbus A320, at 10:37 am, according to an official statement from Kolkata airport. The flight was scheduled to depart from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 10:20 am for Mumbai.
01. What the note said
The note warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11:10 am, Kolkata airport director Vikram Singh said. The pilot immediately alerted air traffic control, and the aircraft was taken to an isolation bay for a detailed security inspection.
Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and specialised airport security teams searched the aircraft. No suspicious item had been found so far at the time of reporting.
02. Investigation underway
Police and security agencies have started an investigation to find out who wrote the threatening note. Investigators are examining the passenger list and reviewing CCTV footage from the airport and inside the aircraft.
Air India had not issued an official statement on the incident at the time of reporting.
03. What we know so far
- Flight: Air India AI 2772, Kolkata to Mumbai, Airbus A320
- When: Note found at 10:37 am on Wednesday, 11 November
- Threat: Note warned the plane would be hijacked at 11:10 am
- Action: Passengers deboarded; aircraft moved to isolation bay and searched
- Status: No suspicious item found so far; probe underway
Sources: The Hindu/PTI, Kolkata Airport statement, ANI.
