A hijack threat note discovered in the washroom of a Mumbai-bound Air India aircraft at Kolkata airport on Wednesday morning triggered a security alert, prompting authorities to evacuate passengers and move the plane to an isolation bay for inspection.

The flight, identified in later reports as AI 2772, was scheduled to depart at approximately 10:20 a.m. The note, found shortly before take-off, warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11:10 a.m., according to Kolkata airport director Vikram Singh.

All 105 passengers who had boarded the aircraft were deboarded after the threat was reported. Airport authorities activated established security procedures and moved the aircraft to an isolated area so that security personnel could conduct a detailed inspection.

According to an official statement cited in subsequent reports, the cabin crew discovered the note inside the aircraft’s lavatory at around 10:37 a.m. The relevant security agencies then carried out precautionary checks.

Security teams completed the prescribed checks, and later reports said the threat had turned out to be a hoax. The aircraft was expected to resume its journey to Mumbai at around 5 p.m., following clearance under the required safety procedures. Telegraph India+1

The incident caused a significant delay to the flight and disrupted the passengers’ travel plans. Air India had not issued a detailed public statement at the time of the initial reports.

Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the note and establish who was responsible for leaving it onboard. The incident also highlights the security procedures followed by airport authorities whenever a potential threat is reported.

Airport officials treated the message seriously despite the absence of any confirmed hijacking attempt. Moving an aircraft to an isolation bay allows security agencies to carry out checks away from regular airport operations before the plane is cleared to fly.

The prompt response ensured that passengers were taken off the aircraft while the necessary security procedures were carried out.