Air India Flight AI 2957 Sends Inadvertent Hijack Signal; Authorities Investigate Incident

A recent Air India flight from Delhi to Mumbai mistakenly triggered a hijack alert shortly after departure, causing concern among security agencies. The incident, which is currently under investigation, led to the aircraft being moved to an isolation bay upon landing at Mumbai airport. Passengers disembarked without any issues.

Representative image

The flight, AI 2957, sent out the squawk code 7500 on January 27. This code signals a hijack situation. It was activated for about three minutes before the Pilot In Command informed the Air Traffic Controller that it was pressed by mistake. Despite this, emergency protocols were enacted as a precaution.

Security Protocols and Investigation

After safely landing at around 10 pm on January 27, the aircraft was isolated as part of standard security measures. Airline sources indicated no crew involvement in the incident, suggesting a possible technical glitch. All relevant parties, including regulatory authorities, are working to determine the cause.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) are conducting an investigation into the matter. The squawk code 7500 is one of several emergency codes standardised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for use during emergencies.

Air India has not commented on the incident. However, sources confirmed that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure such occurrences are prevented in the future. The focus remains on understanding how the error occurred and implementing measures to avoid similar situations.