Air India flight AI2957, traveling from Delhi to Mumbai, triggered emergency protocols on January 27, 2025, when it transmitted a hijack squawk code to Delhi’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) shortly after takeoff at 8:40 PM. The Airbus A320neo, operated by Tata Group-owned Air India, was carrying 126 passengers at the time of the incident.
The flight, which was originally operated by Vistara and now part of the Air India fleet, was bound for Mumbai (BOM) when it signaled the emergency code, Squawk 7500, indicating a possible hijacking situation. This prompted immediate response from both Air Traffic Control and relevant security agencies to assess the situation and ensure the safety of all individuals aboard.
As the flight was still in the initial stages of its journey after taking off from Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), the emergency signal raised serious concerns. Aviation authorities swiftly deployed protocols to investigate the situation and to guarantee that necessary security measures were in place.
However, later reports confirmed that there was no actual hijack on the flight. The situation was deemed a false alarm, though the response was in line with standard emergency procedures to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew.
The aircraft involved, an ex-Vistara Airbus A320neo registered VT-TQM, has been in service with Air India following the airline’s merger with Vistara. The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of communication protocols and the protocols that come into play when squawk codes are triggered, especially in high-stress situations.
A thorough investigation is expected to be conducted to understand the cause of the transmission and to determine if there was any malfunction or human error that led to the false alarm. The event also underscores the heightened security measures in place in the aviation industry, where any potential threat is taken seriously and responded to with urgency.
The situation was resolved without any harm to passengers or crew, and Air India has since reassured the public of its commitment to ensuring the highest levels of safety.
