An Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur and made an emergency landing at Jaipur International Airport on Wednesday morning after the pilot issued a hijacking alert, according to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources. The aviation regulator is probing the incident.
Flight AI 2030, operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, landed safely and was moved to a designated isolation bay for security checks, the sources said.
According to DGCA sources, the aircraft was squawking transponder code 7500, the internationally recognised aviation code for hijacking or unlawful interference. The alert issued by the pilot-in-command (PIC) was received by Air Traffic Control (ATC), following which the flight was diverted to Jaipur.
Deep Dive
Why was Air India flight AI2030 diverted from Delhi to Jaipur?
Was there an actual hijacking or bomb threat on the Frankfurt-Delhi flight?
What security checks did passengers on flight AI2030 undergo in Jaipur?
The aircraft has since been cleared by the authorities, and passengers are expected to board soon, DGCA sources said.
“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 reboarded the aircraft. The flight is expected to continue its journey to Delhi shortly,” Air India said in a statement.
However, police sources said the emergency landing followed a bomb threat. assistant commissioner of police, Malviya Nagar, Shiv Dayal told PTI that airport authorities had informed the police about the emergency landing of the Frankfurt-Delhi flight following a reported bomb threat.
{{/usCountry}}However, police sources said the emergency landing followed a bomb threat. assistant commissioner of police, Malviya Nagar, Shiv Dayal told PTI that airport authorities had informed the police about the emergency landing of the Frankfurt-Delhi flight following a reported bomb threat.
{{/usCountry}}After landing, the aircraft was escorted to a designated isolation bay, where security personnel conducted checks. Both pilots and passengers were deplaned in a phased manner under security supervision, according to preliminary information.
Ground teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), airport security agencies and local police were involved in the security operation. Passengers and their baggage were screened as part of the checks. The National Security Guard (NSG) was also placed on standby in New Delhi, according to preliminary information.
The DGCA is investigating the incident.
"Air India teams worked proactively with authorities to minimise passenger inconvenience. 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," the Air India statement added.