A potential hijacking scare aboard Air India flight AI 2957, traveling from New Delhi to Mumbai, turned out to be a false alarm on Monday night. The incident unfolded shortly after takeoff when the aircraft’s transponder sent a “squawk 7500” code, which is typically used to indicate possible hijacking or unlawful interference.
The emergency code immediately triggered a response from Delhi’s Air Traffic Control (ATC), prompting alerts to Mumbai Airport, security agencies, and the Indian Air Force.
A multi-agency team, including Delhi Police, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and other security organizations, were mobilized to handle the situation.
Despite the pilot later confirming that there was no threat and the alert was a false alarm, the emergency protocols remained in place.
This led to questions about whether the pilot could have been under duress or forced to downplay the situation.
The plane landed in Mumbai at 9:47 PM and was directed to an isolation bay for safety. Emergency teams, including the National Security Guard (NSG), were deployed, and passengers were only allowed to leave the plane an hour later after authorities had ensured the situation was fully under control.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is now investigating whether a technical issue or human error caused the false alert.
While there’s no evidence suggesting crew involvement, the investigation continues.
This incident highlights the importance of having strict security measures in place for air travel, ensuring a quick and thorough response, even when alarms turn out to be false.
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