Air India has approached the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) seeking clarification after three Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists were detained aboard flight AI 2428 shortly after it landed in Delhi on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The incident, which unfolded ahead of the group's planned anti-Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) protest at Jantar Mantar, has raised questions about aircraft access procedures and coordination between police, airport security and airlines.

The activists, Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were taken into custody from their seats after the Mumbai-Delhi flight arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport. According to the reported sequence of events, Air India's own security team was caught by surprise by the operation.

The airline has now sought answers from the aviation security regulator about how police personnel were permitted to board the aircraft and why the carrier was apparently not informed in advance.

How the Detentions Unfolded Inside the Aircraft

Flight AI 2428 departed Mumbai at 8 am and arrived in Delhi at approximately 10.20 am, according to the reported account.

Preparations for the operation were already under way before landing. The aircraft's parking bay was changed on the instructions of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for airport security at major Indian airports, including Delhi.

As the plane reached its designated bay, Delhi Police personnel and CISF officials prepared to board. A ramp was positioned to facilitate access to the aircraft.

Before entering, the officials were frisked by Air India security personnel for weapons. The cabin crew was subsequently informed about the security personnel's presence and alerted the aircraft commander.

The pilot then asked the passengers occupying seats 7A, 7B and 7C to identify themselves and prepare to disembark. However, security personnel had already reached their seats by that point.

The three activists were detained shortly afterwards. Police informed them that permission for their proposed protest had been denied.

The operation took place amid heightened security arrangements in Delhi ahead of the planned demonstration. Reuters reported that authorities detained protesters and opposition figures as they moved to prevent the rally against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Why Air India's Letter to BCAS Matters

Air India's request focuses on the rules governing police access to an aircraft, the circumstances under which such entry is permitted and the apparent absence of advance coordination with the airline.

The questions touch on an existing regulatory framework.

Under Rule 36 of the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023, aircraft operators must control access to aircraft and maintain surveillance during the prescribed security period. The rules also establish responsibilities for securing aircraft when they are not operational.

However, the reported incident raises a separate question: how do these access-control requirements operate when law-enforcement agencies need to detain passengers aboard a landed aircraft?

The provisions cited above do not, by themselves, establish whether police entry in this particular operation was authorised or whether the correct procedures were followed. That determination would require the relevant operational guidelines, the legal basis for the detentions and details of the coordination between the agencies involved.

According to the account of the incident, security sources said CISF personnel had access to passenger manifests maintained by airlines. That access may help explain how officials identified the activists and their seats before boarding.

But the available account does not establish precisely who authorised the operation, which instructions governed the boarding or whether Air India received any communication before the aircraft landed.

Those details are central to resolving the questions raised by the airline.

Air India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation had not responded to questions at the time of publication, according to the supplied report.

Key Takeaways

• Three CJP activists detained: Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were taken into custody aboard flight AI 2428 after its arrival in Delhi.

• Security preparations preceded landing: The aircraft's parking bay was changed, and officials prepared to board using a ramp.

• Air India seeks regulatory clarity: The airline has approached BCAS over police access and the reported lack of advance coordination.

• Rules remain central to the inquiry: Rule 36 of the Aircraft (Security) Rules, 2023, sets out aircraft operators' access-control responsibilities, but the circumstances of this operation require further clarification.

What Happens Next?

The next step is likely to depend on the response from BCAS and any clarification provided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation or the agencies involved.

A clear account of the authorisation process could help establish whether existing procedures were followed and whether coordination arrangements need clarification. It would also help distinguish the airline's routine responsibility for aircraft security from the powers exercised by law-enforcement personnel.

The incident has brought an operational aviation question into the wider debate over restrictions on political protests in Delhi. The immediate issue, however, remains specific: who authorised the boarding, under which rules, and how was the airline supposed to be informed?

What procedures should govern police access to a commercial aircraft during a detention operation? Readers can share their views in the comments.

Disclaimer: This report is based on the supplied news account and publicly available regulatory material; details remain subject to official confirmation and further clarification from the authorities involved.