GURUGRAM- Air India (AI) flight AI2030 from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (DEL), was diverted to Jaipur International Airport (JAI) on Wednesday morning, October 14, following a security alert.
The Boeing 787-9 aircraft landed safely at Jaipur at 9:35 a.m. local time, and all 306 passengers were safely deboarded. Authorities launched security checks after the aircraft reportedly transmitted transponder code 7500, which indicates hijacking or unlawful interference.
Air India Flight AI2030 Diverted After Hijack Alert
Air India flight AI2030 was operating from Frankfurt, Germany, to Delhi, India, when the security alert prompted its diversion to Jaipur. The aircraft was carrying 306 passengers, according to Jaipur airport head Charan Singh.
Preliminary information indicated that the aircraft transmitted Squawk Code 7500 while flying within the Mumbai Flight Information Region (FIR). The code is internationally recognised as a signal of unlawful interference and is commonly associated with a hijacking situation.
Following the transmission, air traffic control (ATC) directed the aircraft to Jaipur instead of allowing it to continue to Delhi. The aircraft landed safely and was moved to a designated isolation bay for security inspections.
Conflicting Reports on B*mb Threat and Hijack Alert
Police sources said airport authorities informed them about the emergency landing following a reported bomb threat. However, a separate report quoted an airport source describing the incident as a hijacking rumour rather than a confirmed bomb threat.
Preliminary indications reported by The Indian Express suggested that the pilot may have activated the hijack alert by mistake. However, investigators had not established the cause of the alert, and the circumstances remained under investigation.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the incident to establish what triggered the alert and why the aircraft was diverted. The available reports did not provide a confirmed explanation for the conflicting accounts.
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Security Agencies Conduct Aircraft and Baggage Checks
After landing, the Boeing 787-9 was escorted to the isolation bay, where security personnel began inspecting the aircraft. Passengers were deboarded in phases under security supervision and moved to the airport terminal.
Ground teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), airport security agencies and local police took part in the operation. Security personnel also checked passengers and their baggage as part of the screening process.
The National Security Guard (NSG) was placed on standby in New Delhi, according to preliminary reports. These precautionary measures followed the hijack alert and the reported bomb threat.
Airport officials confirmed that all 306 passengers landed safely. Authorities said arrangements would be made to take passengers to their respective destinations in line with standard operating procedures.
DGCA Investigation Continues
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the Squawk 7500 transmission and the reported security threat. Preliminary indications of an accidental alert have not been confirmed as a final finding.
Authorities have not publicly established whether the alert resulted from a technical or operational error or another cause. Further details about the incident and the final findings of the investigation were awaited as of Wednesday afternoon.
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