Kolkata: A Mumbai-bound Air India Vistara flight carrying 147 passengers was moved to an isolation bay at Kolkata airport on Wednesday morning shortly before takeoff after the cabin crew discovered a ‘hijack alert’ written on a toilet mirror, airport police said.
“The incident took place this morning. The pilot of Flight AI 772 was preparing for takeoff when the cabin crew members noticed a hijack alert written on a toilet mirror, possibly with lipstick,” an airport police officer said, requesting anonymity.
Following established protocols, an alert was immediately sounded, and the aircraft was moved to the isolation bay.
“Security, fire brigade personnel and members of the bomb squad have been deployed to search the airport as part of normal procedure. The passengers have been taken out of their aircraft,” the officer added.
In an official statement, the airport said, “At 1037 hrs today, a hijack note was found by the cabin crew inside the lavatory of Air India flight AI 2772 (A320, registration VT-TNH), operating on the Kolkata (CCU) – Mumbai (BOM) sector at NSCBI Airport, Kolkata. Necessary checks are currently underway by the concerned agencies as per established protocols.”
The situation is being assessed, and further details are awaited.
