Hijack threat puts Hyd, Mumbai, Chennai airports on high alert

Hyderabad/New Delhi : Terrorists may attempt to simultaneously highjack flights departing from Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai airports on Sunday, according to specific information received by airport security agencies. All three airports have been put on high alert.

"There was an email from an unknown female from Hyderabad to the Mumbai police, saying that a group of 23 people were going to hijack aircraft from different airports Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai. Special airport security committee meetings were held at airports and all concerned have been alerted for strengthening preventive measures outlined by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security," a senior civil aviation ministry official said.

Officials said a high alert has been issued to the three facilities after Mumbai police received an e-mail last night from a woman living there. The e-mail mentions that the woman overheard six boys talking about a possible aircraft hijack attempt at these facilities, they said. The Mumbai police shared the e-mail with all security and intelligence agencies. A meeting of all stakeholders at these airports was subsequently convened and the input was declared specific and actionable, they said.

CISF Director General O P Singh said the security apparatus at these airports has been put on "an enhanced alert and protocols have been stepped up". Special anti-sabotage sweeps are being undertaken at these airports since morning and security agencies, including the Central Industrial Security Force, have enhanced frisking of passengers, baggage scanning, pre-embarkation checks and patrols in the vicinity of the airports, they said.