HYDERABAD- Late on Sunday evening (October 8), authorities at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) were placed on high alert in response to a threatening email received concerning a potential hijacker on a Tata-owned Air India (AI) flight to Dubai (DXB), Flight AI951.
The email, originating from an unidentified email address, raised serious concerns regarding the safety and security of the flight.
Air India Hijack Threat
On the previous day, October 8, at approximately 7 PM, airport duty personnel received this email, which warned them to exercise caution regarding a passenger alleged to be an informant for Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI.
The email further alleged that the passenger had intentions to hijack Flight AI951 and cautioned that “many people” at Hyderabad airport were allegedly “involved” in this conspiracy.
Upon receiving the email, airport security authorities took immediate action. They identified the passenger mentioned in the email and took him into custody. Subsequently, the passenger was swiftly escorted to an isolation area along with his hand luggage.
As a precautionary measure, a dedicated isolation area was set up for Flight AI951, which was initially slated for departure to Dubai. This step was taken to ensure the safety and security of the flight while authorities assessed the situation.
Bomb Scare
In July 2023, the Delhi Police checked Air India (AI) flights at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in response to a man’s alarming Facebook post about a Bomb plant.
The man claimed he had planted a bomb on an Air India plane, mentioning Pakistan and Dubai, which raised serious concerns. However, after thorough inspections, the threat was found to be a hoax. Fortunately, it brought relief to the airport authorities and passengers.
The man behind the fake bomb threat, a resident of Delhi, has been booked under multiple IPC sections. This includes spreading false information, wrongful restraint, public mischief, and criminal intimidation.
Though no arrest has been made yet, the Delhi Police is taking the matter seriously and pursuing legal action against the accused.
In a recent incident on Saturday, the accused posted a threatening message on the IGI airport’s Facebook page. He wrote, “Bomb run… Air India Dubai, Delhi, Bomb, Pakistan.”
The authorities promptly responded to the potential security breach by conducting mandatory checks with the assistance of CISF and other security personnel. They suspected a possible connection to a Pakistan-bound flight, heightening concerns.
However, upon thorough inspection, the Delhi Police confirmed that the message was a mere prank orchestrated by the accused to amuse a friend.
Despite the false nature of the threat, the situation caused a temporary halt in the flights on the runway and an extensive sweep of the area.
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