DGCA suspects tech error behind false hijack alarm

India's aviation regulator suspects a technical fault caused a false hijack alarm on an Air India flight last month, triggering an emergency response at two of the country's busiest airports, two officials have said.

- Neha LM Tripathi

NEW DELHI:

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) believes the incident was likely caused by a transponder malfunction on the Mumbai-bound flight from New Delhi, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Indian Air Force, which first detected the alarm, has submitted its report indicating technical error, one of the officials said. "As of now it's appearing to be an error in codes," a ministry official confirmed.

The incident occurred at 8.40pm on January 27 when Air India flight AI 2957, carrying 126 passengers, transmitted a "squawk 7500" code shortly after take-off from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi Airport. The emergency signal remained active for three minutes.