Air India false hijack alert linked to Mumbai radar glitch, investigators say

A newly installed radar system in Mumbai is suspected of triggering the false Squawk 7500 alert that diverted the Frankfurt‑Delhi flight.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:09:41 GMT

Air India flight AI2030, a Boeing 787‑9 en route from Frankfurt to Delhi, received a false hijack alert that forced an emergency landing in Jaipur on 14 October, investigators said.

What happened

The aircraft, carrying 293 passengers and 13 crew members, transmitted a Squawk 7500 signal— the international code for hijacking— prompting Indian air traffic control to order an immediate diversion. The plane landed at Jaipur International Airport at about 09:35 local time, was moved to an isolation bay, and all 306 occupants were screened before re‑boarding. The flight resumed at 14:37 and reached Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 15:11, according to Indian media reports.

What the reports add

Gulf News reported that early speculation pointed to the pilot accidentally activating the hijack code, but later statements from airline and aviation officials indicated the pilots did not transmit the code. The outlet said investigators now suspect a malfunction in an air‑traffic‑control radar system based in Mumbai and that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is examining the ATC system for a technical error.

News18 added that the probe is focusing on a newly installed radar system in Mumbai, noting that pilots denied sending the code and that the glitch appears to be ground‑based rather than an onboard issue.

What was said

Gulf News quoted airline officials as saying, “The pilots did not transmit the emergency code,” and noted that the DGCA is reviewing the ATC system for a possible technical error.

News18 reported that aviation officials said, “Pilots did not activate code 7500, suggesting a ground glitch,” and that the investigation is centred on the new radar installation in Mumbai.

How it came about

Earlier Felo coverage documented the diversion of the same flight after the pilot allegedly squawked the hijack code (Air India flight AI2030 diverted to Jaipur after pilot squawks hijack code). That article recorded the safe landing, passenger screening and subsequent clearance to continue to Delhi. The current reports build on that timeline by identifying a probable radar malfunction as the cause of the false alert, shifting the focus from pilot error to ground‑based equipment.

Key facts

Air India flight AI2030 diverted to Jaipur after a false Squawk 7500 alert. (gulfnews.com)
The aircraft carried 306 people (293 passengers, 13 crew). (gulfnews.com)
Investigators suspect a malfunction in a Mumbai ATC radar system. (news18.com)
Pilots denied transmitting the hijack code, according to airline officials. (gulfnews.com)
The flight resumed from Jaipur at 14:37 and landed in Delhi at 15:11. (gulfnews.com)