Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Oct 14: Panic gripped the authorities after a hijack alert was received from the Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi on Wednesday morning resulting in diverting the flight to Jaipur airport for necessary security checks.
While the authorities claimed that the pilot might have accidentally transmitted a hijack alert, triggering a security scare and a heightened response from authorities as the plane was diverted to Jaipur Airport, where it made an emergency landing for further protocol, the pilot has reportedly disputed the claims, stressing that he did not mistakenly triggered the alert.
The flight AI-2030 was en route from Frankfurt to Delhi in the morning when the Ahmedabad ATC received a ‘Squawk-7500’ alert for a few seconds that immediately alerted security agencies. The alert prompted the aircraft’s diversion to Jaipur airport, where it was moved to the isolation bay after the emergency landing at around 9:45 am.
Flight AI 2030, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, safely landed at Jaipur, 280 km from its intended destination. Once on the ground, the authorities approached the aircraft with caution before they moved in the ladders for passengers to exit. The flight had 293 passengers and 13 crew members on board.
Sources in the Ahmedabad air traffic control said they received a squawk code 7500, which is generally used when an aircraft is hijacked, from AI 2030. It is the international transponder code for unlawful interference during flight operations.
Everyone is safe, officials said. The passengers and crew were allowed to deboard after the aircraft was thoroughly checked, they said. The passengers were offered complimentary rescheduling options or a full refund in case of a cancellation, the airline said.
Hours later, confirming the incident, Air India in a statement said the relevant security agencies carried out the necessary checks and have cleared the aircraft and crew, and all passengers were disembarked, underwent security checks, and have since re-boarded the aircraft. The airline said Air India teams worked proactively with authorities to minimise passenger inconvenience.
“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 re-boarded the aircraft,” Air India statement said.
“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 said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, Shiv Dayal said airport authorities had informed police about the emergency landing of the flight following a threat. Police sources said security personnel checked the aircraft in the isolation bay. “The flight landed at around 9.35 am. The flight was taken to the isolation bay within ten minutes for checking,” sources said.
According to initial information, the pilot pressed ‘Squawk Code 7500’, which indicates unlawful interference, when the aircraft was in the Mumbai Flight Information Region (FIR). Subsequently, the plane was diverted to Jaipur, the sources added.
Jaipur airport management said security checks were conducted, and later passengers were de-boarded and taken to the terminal building. “The passengers were brought to the terminal building, and later their boarding began for the same plane for departure for Delhi. All are safe, and there is no situation of panic,” airport sources said.
Primary information indicated that the Air India pilot had pressed Squawk Code 7500, an internationally recognised signal that alerts air traffic control to a possible unlawful interference incident, including a hijacking. The reported activation of the code prompted the diversion and subsequent security procedures.
Aircraft maintenance engineers were subsequently called in to examine the plane. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation is expected to establish how the hijack alert was activated and who or what triggered the Squawk 7500 code.