The pilot of an Air India flight mistakenly activated a hijack alert shortly after taking off from Delhi.
The incident is now under investigation.
The ‘squawk code’ was activated for around three minutes before the pilot acknowledged there was an error.
However, security protocols were carried out as per normal policy in such incidents.
The plane was taken to a secure area after landing in Mumbai and passengers deplaned normally.
Airline officials have indicated it may have been a technical error and not inadvertently pressed by the pilot.
The incident is being looked at by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), according to airline sources.
The cockpit ‘7500’ squawk code is used to inform air traffic control and aviation security authorities of a hijacking attempt or another emergency incident in progress.
