Frankfurt to Delhi Air India Flight Diverted to Jaipur After Hijacking Scare: Passengers Recall the Ordeal

Passengers aboard Air India Flight AI2030 experienced a tense few hours on Wednesday after their flight from Frankfurt to Delhi was suddenly diverted to Jaipur following a suspected hijacking alert.

The aircraft, carrying 293 passengers and 13 crew members, eventually landed safely at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport later that afternoon. Here is a look at what transpired based on accounts directly from those on board.

“We Were Told We Can’t Land in Delhi”

The flight was well into its journey when passengers began noticing a change in plans. As the aircraft started its descent, the cabin crew announced that the plane would be diverted to Jaipur due to unspecific security reasons.

Jannis, a 25-year-old medical student traveling to Delhi for a holiday with his partner, recalled seeing emergency vehicles on the tarmac.

“When we landed and got out, we saw a lot of firefighters so we thought there was an engine failure. Then we saw people in other uniforms and thought there may have been an actual security threat,” he shared.

While onboard, passengers were kept largely in the dark about the exact nature of the threat to avoid inducing panic. However, relatives tracking the news back home quickly grew concerned after reports of a hijacking scare surfaced online.

Security Checks and Scans in Jaipur

After touching down in Jaipur around 9:30 AM, passengers were asked to remain seated inside the cabin for roughly two hours.

• Deboarding & Screening: Passengers finally deboarded around 11:30 AM to heavy security presence and underwent thorough baggage and passport verification.
• The Squawk Alert: Aviation trackers noted that the aircraft had transmitted transponder code 7500—the international squawk code designated for unlawful interference or hijacking.
• Official Stance: Air India issued a statement confirming that the flight was diverted following a “perceived security concern”. Security agencies cleared the aircraft, allowing passengers to reboard after mandatory checks.

Preliminary investigations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are currently looking into whether the squawk alert was triggered by a technical glitch in the aircraft or air traffic control systems.

Despite the initial scare, passengers expressed relief once the situation was clarified, with the flight safely completing its final leg to Delhi later that afternoon.