A passenger from West Bengal's Murshidabad district was detained on Thursday for allegedly issuing a hoax hijack threat to an Air India flight from Kolkata to Mumbai.
The threat, contained in a handwritten note found in the aircraft's lavatory before take-off on Wednesday, triggered a security alert and delayed the flight by several hours.
The flight, AI 2772, was scheduled to depart at around 10.30 am. The note warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11.10 am, prompting security agencies to initiate mandatory safety protocols.
All 105 passengers were deboarded, and the aircraft was moved to an isolation bay for extensive security checks. The flight eventually departed for Mumbai at 5.38 pm after authorities completed the prescribed procedures.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a statement that the accused had been detained and handed over to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport Police Station. His name has not yet been disclosed.
During questioning, the man reportedly told investigators that he had issued the threat because he did not want to travel abroad for work while his wife was unwell.
"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 11:11 am," an official was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
Police are investigating the incident and are yet to disclose further details about the charges against the accused.
