Hijack scare at Delhi airport after Pilot "mistakenly" hits 'hijack button' on Kandahar-bound plane

The incident happened at the at the Delhi airport where NSG commandos and officials of other agencies swiftly had responded to the situation and surrounded the aircraft.

While there was no immediate official reaction, the PTI sources said the pressing of hijack button had pushed all agencies concerned, including the anti-terror force National Security Guard (NSG), into action. / Representational Image/ PTI

New Delhi: A hijack scare on a Kandahar-bound flight was sent to security officials on Saturday after the pilot "mistakenly" pressed the 'hijack button' when it was taxiing for take-off. The incident happened at the Delhi airport where NSG commandos and officials of other agencies swiftly responded to the situation and surrounded the aircraft. After the pilot’s mistake, the Ariana Afghan Airlines plane took off nearly two hours later after "satisfactory" security checks. While there was no immediate official reaction, the PTI sources said the pressing of the hijack button had pushed all agencies concerned, including the anti-terror force National Security Guard (NSG), into action. After a two-hour operation that created panic among passengers on board the aircraft, the plane was cleared for take-off. The Delhi-Kandahar FG312 flight was scheduled to depart at 3.30 pm. On Friday, 24 December 1999, Indian Airlines Flight 814 commonly known as IC 814  en route from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India was hijacked by Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and a hostage situation was created. To end the hostage crisis, the Indian government surrendered before terrorists and agreed to release three militants, who later played role in 9/11 attacks, kidnap and murder of Daniel Pearl and 2006 Mumbai terror attacks.