Mid-air ‘hijack’ alert activates security protocol in Mumbai-bound Air India flight

On Monday night at 8:40 PM, Air India flight AI 2957, headed to Mumbai and just departed from New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi airport, transmitted an emergency alert to air traffic control (ATC) in the Capital, indicating a possible hijacking. Delhi ATC swiftly activated a protocol that necessitates notifying the destination airport, security agencies, and the Indian Air Force. A central committee was established, consisting of members from Delhi police, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) responsible for airport safety, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and the Air Force.

Although the pilot informed ATC that it was a false alarm, there was no let up in the protocol. “How can the ATC assume that the pilot is not being pressured to tell the authorities that the flight is uneventful? What if he is at gunpoint and has been asked to say so?” asked a former ATC official who asked not to be named.

The flight, carrying 126 passengers, arrived in Mumbai at 9:47 PM, where officials were prepared for it. “A committee for the aerodrome at Mumbai airport was established according to protocol, and a complete emergency was announced at the airport around 9:30pm, with all local police and stakeholders, including NSG (National Security Guard), being mobilized,” stated a Mumbai airport official, who preferred to remain anonymous.

The plane was brought to a secure area, and passengers were permitted to get off only after an hour, once it was confirmed that everything was fine, the official mentioned. As per a Delhi airport official who preferred to remain anonymous, the incident began when “the aircraft’s transponder transmitted a ‘squawk 7500’ alert to the Delhi ATC right after takeoff.” They added that the signal was up for three minutes.

Squawk codes consist of four-digit numbers from 0000 to 7777 programmed into an aircraft’s transponder. These distinct identifiers enable air traffic control units to differentiate between various aircraft.

In ATC terminology, 7500, 7600, and 7700 are established codes used for emergencies. While squawk 7600 and 7700 signal radio communication loss and any emergency with the aircraft respectively, squawk 7500 signals unlawful interference — in other terms, a hijacking. Officials from the aviation ministry stated that the airline had informed them about the issue, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), together with BCAS and CISF, has initiated an investigation into the incident.

An Air India spokesperson remained unavailable for a comment. However, an airline official familiar with the incident said, “There has been no indication of any crew involvement into the incident. It could have been a technical error, all of which will be known only after the regulator’s (the DGCA) enquiry is concluded.”

A second ministry official added: “The pilot, however, learnt about the false indication after take off. He informed the local ATC that the aircraft was operating in a regular situation and that it was not hijacked.”

“However, once the indication is made, the stakeholders need to follow a protocol and prepare for the worst,” this official added on condition of anonymity.