A routine Air India flight from Delhi to Mumbai turned into a high-stakes security situation on Monday night after a mysterious hijacking alert triggered emergency protocols at two of India’s busiest airports.

Air India flight AI 2957, en route to Mumbai from New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport, sent a hijack alert to air traffic control (ATC) in the capital shortly after takeoff

Mumbai: A passenger on an Air India flight from Mauritius to Mumbai endangered the lives of fellow travelers by smoking inside the aircraft, leading the Sahar Police to register a case against him. The accused passenger has been identified as Seralli Mohammed Zaid (33), a resident of Mauritius.

A Mumbai-bound Air India flight sparked a hijack alert shortly after departing from Delhi, setting off a full-scale security response. The emergency signal prompted swift action from authorities, including the Indian Air Force and multiple security agencies.

Officials familiar with the situation stated that there was no crew involvement in the incident, and it was likely caused by a "technical glitch."

The incident has sparked widespread criticism of Air India on social media, with users sharing similar grievances about the airline's service quality.

Although the pilot told ATC it was a false alarm, there was no let up in the protocol. The flight reached Mumbai, where the authorities were ready.