Passenger Arrested After Planting Hoax Hijack Threat on Air India Flight in Kolkata
A passenger identified as 56-year-old Partha Pratim Nandi, also recorded as a 55-year-old cancer survivor, was apprehended at Kolkata airport after planting a hoax hijack note in an aircraft washroom, according to The Indian Express. Air India flight AI 2772, carrying 105 passengers and bound for Mumbai, was scheduled to depart from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport around 10.30 am on Wednesday. The aircraft pilot transmitted an emergency hijack alert to Air Traffic Control after cabin crew discovered the written threat card prior to take-off. Airport security personnel directed the aircraft to an isolation bay and initiated screening protocols, causing a departure delay of over seven hours.
Family Circumstances and Travel Motive
During police interrogation, Nandi confessed to placing the threat note, explaining that he was desperate to avoid travelling abroad away from his ailing wife who is undergoing cancer treatment. The accused had secured overseas employment in Mozambique and accepted a salary advance of Rs 1,00,000 from a United States firm with offices in southeast Africa. Nandi stated that his employers threatened legal action when he sought to cancel his departure following a minor vehicular collision en route to the airport. Feeling compelled to board the flight, Nandi hoped that an on-board disruption would force the plane to abort its journey and allow him to miss his connecting international flight.
Forensic Investigation and Handwriting Analysis
Following the isolation of the aircraft, aviation security personnel and Bidhannagar City Police officers collected handwriting samples and wallets from all 105 passengers on board. Investigators reviewed internal cabin closed-circuit television recordings, narrowing their scrutiny to passengers occupying seats 17D and 14B who had visited the lavatory after boarding. Forensic examiners matched the handwriting on the threat note to Nandi, who occupied seat 17D and carried blank promotional insert cards from a new wallet. Police recovered several blank white cards in Nandi's possession that matched the exact paper stock used to write the hijack threat. The threat note discovered by cabin crew warned that the aircraft would be hijacked at 11.10 a.m. on November 11, 2026, prompting security agencies to initiate mandatory safety checks, according to The Hindu.
Judicial Custody and Bail Hearing
The airport authority stated on Thursday that officials apprehended a suspect and transferred him to the NSCBI Airport Police Station following the disruption. Given the serious illness of his wife and Nandi's own medical history as a colon cancer survivor bearing surgical scars, investigating officers chose not to seek police custody. Appearing before the Barrackpore court on Thursday, the judicial magistrate granted Nandi bail on compassionate medical grounds. Following comprehensive security clearances, flight AI 2772 received permission to depart for Mumbai at 5.38 pm.