The pilot of an Abu Dhabi-Kochi Air India flight today pressed the hijack button in panic after passengers created a ruckus in the cockpit following diversion of the plane to Thiruvananthapuram.

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.

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

Later, the flight took off for Kochi after stranding for over 9 hours at the Thiruvananthapuram airport.
Aviation regulator DGCA has ordered a probe into the incident, official sources said in New Delhi.