A major security alert was sounded at Kolkata Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Wednesday morning after a handwritten hijack threat note was discovered inside the washroom of a Mumbai bound Air India flight. The incident occurred around 10.37 AM on Air India flight AI 2772 just moments before its scheduled takeoff. Cabin crew members spotted the threatening note written on the lavatory mirror warning that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11.10 AM. The pilot immediately alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC) triggering emergency aviation protocols. Security forces promptly moved the Airbus A320 carrying 105 passengers to an isolated bay for inspection.
All passengers were safely deboarded and taken to the terminal while specialized bomb disposal units the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and sniffer dog squads thoroughly searched the cabin and checked all passenger luggage. Security officials also reviewed airport CCTV footage and questioned passengers regarding any suspicious movements.
After extensive anti sabotage checks lasting several hours yielded no suspicious items authorities officially declared the hijack message a hoax. The aircraft was cleared for departure and finally took off for Mumbai around 5.38 PM nearly seven hours behind its original schedule. Police and aviation security agencies have registered a case to trace the individual responsible for writing the hoax note.
