Security officials at Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport grounded a Mumbai-bound Air India passenger jet on Wednesday morning, shunting the aircraft to an isolated taxiway after cabin crew discovered a handwritten note threatening an imminent mid-air hijacking.
Panick was averted on the tarmac. The note, found discarded inside the aircraft’s lavatory just minutes before its scheduled 10:20 am takeoff, claimed operatives would seize control of the airliner at 11:10 am. Flight crew moved instantly. The pilots flagged Air Traffic Control, triggering emergency anti-terror protocols across the airport perimeter.
Upon receiving the distress alert from the cockpit, aviation security agencies directed the pilot to taxi away from the active terminal apron to a fortified isolation bay. All 93 passengers who had already boarded the aircraft were deboarded under armed security cover. Ground personnel ferried them back to the terminal holding area as anti-sabotage units sealed the perimeter.
Airport Director Vikram Singh confirmed the operational response.
Security teams cordoned off the jet within minutes. Specialist dog squads and bomb detection personnel initiated a cabin-by-cabin sweep, searching overhead bins, under-seat compartments, galley spaces, and cargo holds. Ground handlers simultaneously pulled all checked luggage from the aircraft belly for physical rescreening and trace-detection checks.
| Flight Parameter | Operational Status |
|---|---|
| Flight Sector | Kolkata to Mumbai |
| Carrier | Air India |
| Scheduled Departure | 10:20 AM |
| Stated Threat Deadline | 11:10 AM |
| Passenger Count | 93 on board |
| Aircraft Location | Designated Airport Isolation Bay |
Police investigators and airport security agencies launched a handwriting analysis of the recovered paper to trace the individual who deposited the note inside the lavatory before the flight boarded. Flight manifests and passenger boarding logs are undergoing cross-verification against terminal surveillance footage.
Security officials confirmed that the aircraft will remain grounded in the isolation bay until aviation security agencies and Air India ground supervisors complete full anti-sabotage clearance and issue a joint security certificate.