Pilot’s Mistake sends Hijack Alert Hoax to Ariana Flight

Saturday, November 10, 2018

NEW DELHI:  According to airport officials, a hijack alert on a Kandahar-bound flight
triggered alarm at the Delhi airport on Saturday after the pilot “mistakenly” pressed the “hijack button” when it was taxiing for take-off.

The Ariana Afghan Airlines plane, with nine crew members and 124 passengers and
an infant, took off nearly two hours later after “satisfactory” security checks, they said.

The officials said the pressing of”hijack button” had pushed all agencies concerned, including the anti-terror force National Security Guard (NSG), into action.

NSG commandos and officials of other agencies swiftly responded to the situation
and surrounded the aircraft, they said.

After a two-hour operation that created panic among the passengers on board the
aircraft, the plane was cleared for take-off, they said.

The Delhi-Kandahar FG312 flight was scheduled to depart at 3.30 pm.

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