Indian government says reported hijacking was false alarm

By Laurinda Keys

Associated Press

NEW DELHI, India – A reported plane hijacking Wednesday night on a domestic flight from Bombay was a false alarm caused by an anonymous phone call and confusion aboard the aircraft, the government said.

Earlier, civil aviation officials said hijackers seized a Boeing 737 jetliner shortly after its departure from Bombay. Reports said 54 people and crew members were on board.

National security force commandos surrounded the plane early Thursday at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. Fire vehicles and ambulances ringed the runway.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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