Panic ensued at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Wednesday morning following reports of a hijack threat directed at a Mumbai-bound Air India flight.
A threatening message concerning a hijack was discovered written on the mirror of one of the aircraft's lavatories, say sources.
An official at the airport later said that the threat was a hoax.
According to reports, the aircraft was preparing for takeoff when the threatening message on the lavatory mirror was noticed. Upon learning of the incident, the pilot immediately alerted Air Traffic Control (ATC).
The aircraft was subsequently moved to an isolation bay, where the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and specialised airport security personnel launched an intensive search operation. Every part of the aircraft is being thoroughly examined to detect the presence of any suspicious items.
Police and security agencies have initiated an investigation to determine who wrote the threatening message and who might be behind it.
Authorities also reviewed the footage from CCTV cameras located within the airport premises and inside the aircraft.
Following the determination that it was indeed a hoax, authorities said that the aircraft would depart at 5 pm. It was originally scheduled to depart at 10:30 am.
(With inputs from Santosh Thakur)
