Hijack threat on toilet mirror of Mumbai-bound Air India plane at Kolkata airport; flight isolated

Panic broke out at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday morning when a threatening message was found written on the toilet mirror of a Mumbai-bound Air India aircraft. The message said the aircraft would be hijacked. It came to light shortly before departure.

According to airport sources, the aircraft was preparing for take-off when the message was spotted on a mirror inside a toilet. It is said to have warned of a hijack at 11.10 am. This heightened the concern of the crew and airport officials.

The flight was scheduled to leave Kolkata for Mumbai at 10.20 am. Kolkata airport director Vikram Singh confirmed that a threatening note had been found. He said all passengers on board were immediately disembarked as a precaution.

On learning of the message, the pilot informed Air Traffic Control (ATC). The airport's security machinery then went into action. The aircraft was taken to an isolation bay, away from regular operations, so that it could be checked thoroughly.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and the airport's special security teams began an intensive search. The passenger cabin, overhead luggage compartments, toilets, baggage areas and other sensitive spots were combed to check for explosives, any suspicious object or any other danger.

Airport director Singh said security protocols were put in place immediately and the aircraft was being examined closely as a precaution. Although the threat was made through a handwritten message, officials did not want to take any risk.

Meanwhile, police and intelligence agencies have begun an investigation. They are trying to establish who wrote the message and how it reached the aircraft. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from various parts of the airport to detect suspicious activity and identify people who could have reached the aircraft before the flight.

The investigation will also examine whether the message was an attempt to spread panic or disrupt flights. Officials have not yet given any preliminary finding on how credible the threat is or who is behind it.

Because of the swift action by the crew and airport security, the aircraft could not depart on schedule until the necessary security checks were completed. The outcome of the checks, the new departure time and progress in the investigation were awaited.