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Air India flight diverted after hijack alert transmitted mid-flight

An Air India aircraft bound for Delhi was diverted to Jaipur after transmitting squawk code 7500, the international aviation distress signal indicating unlawful interference. Airline officials have questioned whether pilots deliberately activated the hijack alert.

LSN India · 14 October 2026

Air India flight diverted after hijack alert transmitted mid-flight

An Air India flight heading to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur airport following the transmission of squawk code 7500, according to aviation sources. Under international aviation protocols, this specific transponder code alerts air traffic control to potential hijacking or unlawful interference situations, triggering immediate emergency procedures.

The aircraft was safely landed at Jaipur as a precautionary measure following standard protocol. No security threat materialized during the diversion, and all passengers and crew remained secure throughout the incident.

Airline sources have disputed whether the flight crew deliberately entered the hijack code, suggesting the alert may have been transmitted inadvertently. The circumstances leading to the activation of the distress signal remain unclear, with officials reviewing cockpit procedures and communications to determine what triggered the alert.

Squawk code 7500 is reserved exclusively for signalling hijack threats and represents one of aviation's most critical emergency indicators. When transmitted, it mandates immediate response from air traffic control and ground authorities, resulting in the diversion of the aircraft and heightened security protocols at the destination airport.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing as aviation authorities seek to establish the exact cause of the alert transmission.