Air India scare: Man makes hijack threat to skip work
What's the story
A man from West Bengal's Murshidabad has been apprehended for allegedly making a false hijack threat on an Air India flight. The incident took place on Wednesday morning when a handwritten note warning of a hijack was discovered in the lavatory of an Airbus A320 (VT-TNH) scheduled to fly from Kolkata to Mumbai. The note stated that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11:11am.
Investigation underway
Passenger's identity yet to be disclosed
According to officials, the man told cops that he made the hoax threat in order to avoid traveling abroad for work and stay with his ailing wife.
The passenger was handed over to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport Police Station after his handwriting matched that of the threat note, an official told HT.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) confirmed that all necessary checks were carried out and declared the threat a hoax.
Motive revealed
Threat note to avoid traveling abroad
The passenger, a resident of Sodepur in North 24 Parganas, was employed by a private company and was supposed to be sent abroad for work. However, he wanted to stay back as his wife was ailing.
"During questioning the man told airport security officials that he was reluctant to leave for abroad as his wife was ailing. Hence, he left a note in the aircraft's lavatory stating that it would be hijacked at around 11:11am," an official said.
Previous incidents
Similar incident on November 7
This incident comes on the heels of two other recent hijack scares.
On November 7, an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru to Lucknow returned after a threat note was found in its lavatory.
The note warned of a hijacking at 6:30am, prompting pilots to return as per standard operating procedures.
The threat was later declared a hoax and the flight resumed its journey after necessary clearances were obtained.
Diversion incident
Another hijack scare on October 14
Before that, on October 14, an Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur after a suspected hijack alert.
The aircraft had safely landed and passengers were deboarded for security checks.
It had transmitted Squawk Code 7500, the international code for hijacking or unlawful interference, triggering an emergency response.
The alert was later found to be false.