An Air India flight travelling from Frankfurt, Germany, to New Delhi was diverted to Jaipur on Wednesday, October 14, following a suspected hijack alert that triggered an emergency security response.
Flight AI2030, operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, landed safely at Jaipur International Airport at about 9:35 a.m. local time. The aircraft was moved to an isolation bay as security agencies inspected the plane and screened passengers and their baggage.
What triggered the alert?
According to Indian media reports citing aviation officials, the aircraft transmitted transponder code 7500, an internationally recognised signal indicating hijacking or unlawful interference with an aircraft. The alert prompted air traffic controllers to initiate security procedures and divert the flight as a precaution.
Preliminary indications suggest the signal may have been activated accidentally or resulted from a technical glitch. However, authorities had not established the cause, and an investigation was underway.
Passengers cleared after security checks
The flight was carrying 293 passengers and 13 crew members, according to Hindustan Times. Passengers were asked to disembark in Jaipur and undergo security screening while authorities examined the aircraft and baggage.
Air India confirmed that security agencies had cleared the aircraft and crew. Passengers subsequently reboarded the plane, which continued its journey to New Delhi, arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport at approximately 3:15 p.m., according to Hindustan Times.
Further details indicate that the incident triggered a coordinated security response at Jaipur International Airport, with police, aviation security personnel and bomb disposal specialists inspecting the aircraft and passengers’ baggage. The Boeing 787-9, carrying approximately 293 passengers and 13 crew members, was cleared after security checks, allowing passengers to reboard and continue their journey to New Delhi. Air India apologised for the disruption, while preliminary reports suggested the hijack alert may have been activated accidentally. Authorities were yet to establish the precise cause of the signal, and no confirmed hijacking was reported.
