Air India hijack mystery: What happened on AI Frankfurt flight that sent the emergency code. Mumbai ATC says code was sent from plane, but experts say only one in a trillion chance of it going inadvertently

An Air India flight from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur on Wednesday after air traffic control detected the aircraft transmitting transponder code 7500, the internationally recognised code for a hijacking or unlawful interference, triggering a security response involving multiple agencies. While the aircraft and its crew were cleared to resume the journey after extensive checks, the circumstances that led to the false hijack scare are now being investigated by aviation and security agencies, TOI reported.

The Boeing 787-9, operating as flight AI2030 with around 300 people on board, had entered Indian airspace using the longer route necessitated by the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian carriers. The alert emerged when Mumbai air traffic control (ATC) systems detected the aircraft transmitting code 7500.

According to people familiar with the matter who spoke to TOI, the pilots denied setting the hijack code and informed ATC that the flight was operating normally. However, established security procedures required the aircraft to be diverted to Jaipur, where it landed safely and was moved to a remote isolation bay for inspection.


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What happened on the Air India flight?

After the aircraft landed in Jaipur, security agencies initiated a multi-agency operation. Personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), local police and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) inspected the aircraft, passenger baggage and cargo holds. Passengers and their belongings were subjected to security checks, and the aircraft was examined for potential threats.

Police sources told TOI, security personnel carried out the necessary inspections as part of the response. The National Security Guard (NSG) was also placed on standby in New Delhi, according to the information provided.

Jaipur airport sources told PTI that passengers were moved to the terminal after the security checks and that everyone was safe.

“The passengers have arrived in the terminal building. All are safe, and there is no situation of panic. The passengers are in the terminal building, and the authorities are now working on the plan for their departure to New Delhi,” airport sources told PTI.

Airport authorities said regular flight movements and terminal operations continued during the security response. Once the inspections were completed, the Aerodrome Committee assessed the situation and concluded that the threat alert had been resolved. The aircraft and crew were subsequently cleared for departure.

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Senior Boeing 787 pilots question how code 7500 was triggered

The focus has now shifted to determining how the aircraft came to be detected transmitting the hijack code despite the pilots' reported assertion that all operations were normal.

Senior Boeing 787 pilots told TOI that the possibility of the code being entered inadvertently was extremely remote, describing it as a “one in a trillion” chance. They said each digit must be entered manually and that there is no single button that could accidentally activate the code.

The pilots' assessment suggests that an inadvertent input from the cockpit would be highly unlikely, although the investigation has yet to establish how the alert originated.

People familiar with the matter said investigators are examining whether the incident could have resulted from an issue involving the aircraft or the ATC system. They also raised the question of whether software on the air traffic control side could have contributed to the alert.

Senior air traffic controllers, however, said a software malfunction appeared unlikely. They noted that Mumbai ATC has a new system and explained how the hijack code triggers an immediate warning.

“When a pilot squawks 7500 (hijack), then the colour of this aircraft’s dot on the radar screen turns red and an alarm goes off,” an official said.

Transponder code 7500 indicates hijacking or unlawful interference, while 7600 is used to indicate a radio communication failure and 7700 signals a general emergency. The codes allow air traffic controllers to identify the nature of an aircraft's alert and initiate the appropriate response.

The investigation is expected to establish why code 7500 appeared on the flight's radar display and whether the alert originated from the aircraft, the cockpit input or the air traffic control system.

What Air India said about the diversion

In a statement, Air India confirmed that flight AI2030, operating from Frankfurt to Delhi on October 14, was diverted to Jaipur following a perceived security concern.

“Air India flight AI2030 operating from Frankfurt to Delhi on Oct 14 was diverted to Jaipur following a perceived security concern. The aircraft landed safely in Jaipur. The relevant security agencies carried out the necessary checks and have cleared the aircraft and crew. All passengers disembarked, underwent security checks, and have since reboarded the aircraft. The flight is expected to continue its journey to Delhi shortly,” the airline said.

The airline added that its teams had worked with the authorities to reduce inconvenience to passengers.

“Air India teams worked proactively with authorities to minimise passenger inconvenience. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen disruption and appreciate their patience and understanding. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain Air India's highest priority,” the statement added.