High drama at airport, pilot presses hijack button

According to airport officials, protesting passengers allegedly entered the cockpit of the aircraft after having waited in the plane for over four hours to go to Kochi.

The pilot then pressed the hijack button, they said.

Following the message, police and other security personnel surrounded the aircraft which was parked at the airport.

The plane was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram due to bad weather, the officials said.

Passengers refused to deboard the aircraft despite repeated requests by the airlines.

Aviation regulator DGCA has ordered a probe into the incident, official sources said in New Delhi. MORE