Air India hoax hijack threat: Cancer patient arrested at Kolkata airport
Synopsis
A terminally ill man unwilling to leave his cancer-stricken wife behind allegedly planted a fake hijack note in an Air India toilet — triggering a seven-hour security lockdown at Kolkata airport. The case exposes how personal desperation can weaponise aviation security systems, with severe legal consequences regardless of motive.
Key Takeaways
Partha Pratim Nandi , 56, a cancer patient, was arrested for planting a hoax hijack note on a Mumbai-bound Air India flight at Kolkata's NSCBI Airport on 10 November 2026 .
The false alert forced the aircraft into an isolation bay , delaying departure by approximately seven hours .
The hijack note was found in the aircraft's toilet ; Nandi reportedly confessed during interrogation.
Nandi claimed he planted the note because he was unwilling to leave his cancer-affected wife alone in Kolkata while travelling to Africa for work.
He was first detained by CISF personnel and later handed over to Bidhannagar City Police , who confirmed prosecution will proceed.
A 56-year-old cancer patient, identified as Partha Pratim Nandi, has been arrested in connection with a hoax hijack threat planted aboard a Mumbai-bound Air India flight at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI), Kolkata, on 10 November 2026. The false alert forced the aircraft into an isolation bay and delayed its departure by approximately seven hours, disrupting travel plans for all passengers on board.
How the Threat Unfolded
On Wednesday, 10 November, the flight's pilot received a hijack threat just as the aircraft was preparing for take-off and immediately notified Air Traffic Control (ATC). Following standard security protocol, the flight was swiftly moved to an isolation bay, and security personnel launched a thorough search of the aircraft. The threat was subsequently determined to be a hoax — a handwritten note warning of a hijack had been left inside the flight's toilet, where it was discovered by another passenger or crew member.
Arrest and Confession
Partha Pratim Nandi was first detained by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel on duty at the airport and subsequently handed over to officers of the NSCBI Airport Police Station, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Bidhannagar City Police. During interrogation, Nandi reportedly confessed to planting the hoax alert note on the flight.
According to his confession, Nandi had been scheduled to fly to Mumbai and then travel onward to Africa for employment. He claimed that both he and his wife are cancer patients, and he was unwilling to leave his ailing wife alone in Kolkata while he relocated abroad. Sources said he was in a 'disturbed state of mind' when he boarded the flight on Wednesday and committed the act in that condition.
What the Police Said
A Bidhannagar City Police officer acknowledged the tragic personal circumstances behind the act but was unequivocal about the legal consequences. 'I understand the tragic circumstances under which the accused had committed this act. But what he has done is strictly punishable under the law. Because of his act, so many other passengers who were supposed to fly to Mumbai, some with urgent purposes, including scheduled medical appointments, had to suffer. So, the law will take its own course,' the officer said.
Impact on Passengers and Operations
The seven-hour delay had a cascading effect on fellow travellers, several of whom reportedly had time-sensitive commitments in Mumbai, including medical appointments. The incident also triggered a full-scale security response at one of eastern India's busiest airports. This comes amid a broader pattern of hoax security alerts targeting Indian aviation — a category of offence that authorities have consistently treated with zero tolerance.
Legal and Security Implications
Planting a false hijack threat on a commercial aircraft is a serious criminal offence under Indian law, carrying significant prison time. Security agencies are expected to file a chargesheet detailing the specifics of Nandi's confession. The case is likely to serve as a reminder of the severe legal risks — irrespective of personal circumstances — associated with triggering aviation security protocols with false information.
Point of View
A sick wife, an unwanted posting abroad — risks obscuring a hard truth: hoax aviation threats are not victimless. Fellow passengers with their own medical emergencies lost seven hours because one person externalised a private crisis onto a public safety system. Indian courts have consistently held that personal distress is no mitigation in aviation security offences, and rightly so. What this case also surfaces is a gap in pre-flight welfare screening — the kind of distress Nandi was reportedly experiencing may warrant a check-in process that connects visibly distressed passengers with support before they board, not after they panic.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested for the hoax hijack threat on the Air India flight at Kolkata?
Partha Pratim Nandi, a 56-year-old cancer patient from Kolkata, was arrested for planting a fake hijack note on a Mumbai-bound Air India flight on 10 November 2026. He was detained by CISF personnel at NSCBI Airport and later handed over to the Bidhannagar City Police.
What happened to the Air India flight after the hijack threat was received?
The pilot immediately alerted Air Traffic Control upon receiving the threat, and the flight was moved to an isolation bay at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. A full security search was conducted, the threat was found to be a hoax, and the flight's departure was delayed by approximately seven hours.
Why did Partha Pratim Nandi plant the hoax hijack note?
According to his confession, Nandi was in a disturbed state of mind as he was scheduled to travel to Mumbai and then onward to Africa for work, but did not want to leave his cancer-affected wife alone in Kolkata. He reportedly planted the note to disrupt his own departure.
Where was the hijack note found on the Air India flight?
The note warning of a hijack was recovered from the toilet of the aircraft, where it was noticed by someone on board. Its discovery triggered the security response that grounded the flight.
What are the legal consequences for planting a fake hijack threat in India?
Planting a hoax hijack threat on a commercial aircraft is a serious criminal offence under Indian law and carries significant prison time. The Bidhannagar City Police confirmed that legal proceedings against Nandi will proceed regardless of the personal circumstances cited in his confession.
