Airports on alert after hijack threat

Mumbai: Airports across the country were put on high alert and security checks were intensified after a hijack threat was issued by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) on Thursday evening. The alert said that a plane hijack attempt was likely to take place on Thursday evening.
Security measures were beefed up immediately for both Thursday and Friday. Almost all major international airports in the country were already on a red alert because of Republic Day; the fresh intelligence input from the IB had only increased the threat perception, officials said.
Officials said it was a specific alert which said that an aircraft hijack attempt was likely on any aircraft, particularly between 7 pm and 7.20 pm.
“The alert was issued to all airports citing a possibility of a hijack attempt. Though it did not specify where the possibility of the incident happening was higher, it said that an attempt was likely on Thursday evening. Special measures have been taken for Thursday night in particular and security for Friday, too, has been stepped up as a preventive measure,’’ an official said. “Following the threat, all airports, particularly the major international ones, have been asked to tighten the security,’’ he added.
Airport officials have been working overtime after a specific hijack alert was sounded for flights to and from Nepal two days ago. The threat said that a re-run of the Air India Kathmandu-Delhi IC-184 hijack was likely. All flights going to Nepal were put on extra and special checks following the intelligence input.
29/01/10 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jan 2010, Safety Jan 2010