Air India denies reports of hijack bid

Air India on Saturday denied rumours of a recent hijack bid aboard one of its aircraft.

The national carrier stated that the patient who was in a medical emergency on a recent flight was a British national and the nurse who came forward to assist him was a woman passenger of Indian origin. "There were no Pakistani nationals (on the flight) as reported," said an airlines spokesperson.

Pilots and cabin crews of other airlines received an email which spread the rumour, which was picked up by the media.
Media reports said that the alleged hijacking bid occurred on a recent Air India London-Delhi flight.

It was reported that a passenger had complained of being sick on board an international flight of Air India, and a few passengers claiming to be doctors came forward to help; they then wanted to see the pilot. Media reports had claimed that the sick passenger, as well as the five doctors, were allegedly Pakistani nationals who were trying to gain access to the cockpit in an apparent bid to 'hijack' the aircraft. Permission to meet the captain was reportedly denied, as per the law applicable globally; no one except the crew members are allowed inside the cockpit during the flight.