Frankfurt-Delhi Air India flight diverted to Jaipur after hijack alert

An Air India flight travelling from Frankfurt in Germany to Delhi was diverted to Jaipur this morning following a reported hijack alert, news agency IANS has reported.

The airport authorities followed the highest level of response similar to the one usually activated to tackle incidents like hijacking, sources said.

Flight AI 2030, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, safely landed in the city in Rajasthan 280 km from its intended destination at 9.45 am. Once on the ground, the authorities approached the aircraft with caution before they moved in the ladders for passengers to exit.

Everyone is safe, officials said. The passengers and crew were allowed to deboard after the aircraft was thoroughly checked, they said.

The passengers are being offered complimentary rescheduling options or a full refund in case of cancellations, the airline said.

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Hours later, confirming the incident, Air India in a statement said the flight was diverted "following a perceived security concern." The passengers were taken through security checks and allowed to board the aircraft  again, the airline said. The flight is expected to continue its journey to Delhi shortly, it said.

"Air India teams worked proactively with authorities to minimise passenger inconvenience. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen disruption and appreciate their patience and understanding," Air India said.