Air India Frankfurt-Delhi Flight Diverted to Jaipur After Hijack Alert; ATS Deployed, NSG on Standby

An Air India flight operating from Frankfurt to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur on Wednesday morning following a security alert after its pilot reportedly transmitted the internationally recognised hijack code 7500 for a few seconds.

Flight AI-2030 landed safely at Jaipur International Airport at around 9.35 am and was moved to a designated isolation bay for security checks. Security agencies were alerted after Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control (ATC) received an emergency signal from the aircraft.

The brief transmission of code 7500 triggered aviation security protocols, prompting the diversion and a coordinated response by airport authorities, police and other security agencies.

However, the circumstances surrounding the alert remain under investigation, and the available information does not establish that an actual hijacking took place.

Following the landing, the pilots and passengers were deplaned in phases under security supervision. Passengers and their baggage are undergoing physical screening and security checks, while security personnel are inspecting the aircraft.

Teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), airport security agencies and local police have cordoned off the isolation bay and are carrying out a thorough inspection of the aircraft. The National Security Guard (NSG) has also been placed on standby in New Delhi in case its intervention is required.

Further details about the origin of the alert and the circumstances that led to the transmission of the code are awaited.

What Is Transponder Code 7500?

Transponder code 7500 is an internationally recognised aviation emergency code used to indicate that an aircraft is experiencing unlawful interference, including a hijacking. A transponder is an onboard device that communicates identifying information to air traffic control, helping controllers track and identify aircraft.

When a pilot selects code 7500, the signal alerts air traffic controllers to a potential security emergency. Controllers are expected to verify whether the code was selected intentionally and notify the appropriate authorities. If the pilot confirms unlawful interference, or does not respond to verification attempts, the situation is handled as a potential hijacking.

The code is distinct from other emergency transponder signals. Code 7700 indicates a general emergency, while code 7600 is used to indicate a loss of radio communications.

Because code 7500 can indicate a threat to the aircraft, its passengers and crew, its transmission can prompt immediate security measures even before the nature of the incident is established.

These measures may include diverting the aircraft, arranging a controlled landing, isolating the plane and screening passengers, baggage and the aircraft.

The transmission of the code alone, however, does not confirm that a hijacking has occurred.

With inputs from ANI