Source NDTV
Moments of high tension gripped Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Wednesday morning when an Air India flight bound for Mumbai triggered an emergency hijack alert right before take-off.
The aircraft was taxiing toward the runway when crew members made a shocking discovery inside one of the lavatories. A chilling handwritten message—warning that the flight was about to be hijacked—had been scribbled across the toilet mirror. The sudden discovery brought the entire departure to an immediate halt.
A Chilling Warning on the Mirror
The incident took place aboard flight AI 772, an Airbus A320 aircraft carrying over 90 passengers and crew. As the plane was lining up for its scheduled departure, a cabin crew member noticed the threat written on the mirror, reportedly drawn using lipstick.
Without wasting a single second, the crew alerted the captain. The pilot immediately transmitted a hijack alert to Air Traffic Control (ATC), triggering emergency protocols at the busy airport.
Swift Security Response on the Tarmac
Within minutes of the radio call, emergency teams swung into action. Air traffic controllers ordered the plane off the active taxiway and guided it to an isolated bay away from all other terminals and aircraft.
Vehicles carrying the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), airport police, the bomb detection squad, and firefighters quickly surrounded the jet. Ground teams carefully evacuated all passengers and crew, bringing them safely back into the terminal.
A complete and detailed sweep of the aircraft began right away. Security experts searched every row of seats, overhead bins, cargo holds, and technical compartments to rule out explosives or weapons. Every piece of checked luggage and carry-on bag was taken down to undergo fresh X-ray scans and sniffer-dog checks.
Hunt for the Culprit
While the physical sweep found no weapons or dangerous items aboard, authorities are treating the incident as a serious breach of security.
Investigators from local police and aviation security agencies have opened a formal probe to find the person responsible for the message. Officers are questioning travelers, checking boarding times, and reviewing CCTV footage from both inside the airport terminal and the boarding gate area.
Aviation authorities noted that hoax threats—whether shared online or scribbled on board—waste vital public resources, delay travel schedules, and create unnecessary fear among families. Officials warned that anyone caught pulling such a stunt will face strict legal action, heavy fines, and a potential lifetime flight ban.
