T.R.U.E.Talks-Tales Revealing Untold Emotions

Monday, December 17, 2018

The hijacking of the IA flight IC 436 at Lucknow Airport...Part 2


   In my last post I had written about my adventure in the sky. Indian Airlines flight IC 436 was hijacked by 4 Arts college students of Lucknow, with 59 passenger on board. The student hijackers demands were postponement of exams, grants of more funds to their college, investigation of corruption charge against the Principal of the college & introduction of PG courses. All the passengers were in the grip of extreme fear except for the army personnel who were tipsy & off duty.Due to the inebriated condition one of the defense guy would get up every now & than to catch hold of the hijackers.But the fellow passengers would push him back to his seat.
The hijacked flight (Illustration purpose only)
 Suddenly the plane started to loose height which created a panic in the aircraft.I thought the dooms day had arrived. Calm prevailed only after the plane stabilized followed by the voice of the Captain. " Ladies & Gentlemen! the plane lost height due to the air pocket, nothing to worry. Hon'ble Governor of UP has agreed to meet the students as per their demand and we have been given clearance to land at the Amausi airport, Lucknow. Amid fervent prayers the plane finally landed.
 Calm prevailed only when the plane stabilized.....
 When I looked outside it was a scene straight from a James Bond movie ,gun toting policemen, red & blue siren lights on the vehicle surrounding the plane.Everyone was waiting nervously, with bated breath for the doors to be opened. Nobody on board realized that due to the hijacked protocol the plane was not allowed to taxi towards the terminal building and was parked far from the main parking bay.
Fire Engines approaching the hijacked aircraft


 
   I forgot to mention that due to my media profession I managed to grab the attention of 2 students hijackers during the hold up. So after the plane had touched down I requested them to allow me to go the  wash room, as I thought it was the safest place in case of crossfire . After consultation with his colleague one of the student hijackers accompanied me to the toilet which was at the front side of the aircraft. I don't remember how long I was in the toilet until I heard a knock. I realized that holding myself inside would be an exercise in futile. I came out.
                                              
Security forces aiming at the aircraft
  As I was returning to my seat things began to happen very fast. The next moment I was on the floor with the hijacker on my back and the army guy on top of him. The small tin box (Pan Masala) fell out of the hijacker's hand as he started screaming "plane ko uda do koi bachne na pai (blow the plane. Kill them all). But it was over for the hijackers as the tin box was empty. It had no  RDX. They fooled every one for nearly 4 hours. The hijackers had manage to hijack the plane for ransom on a hoax.
The wash room
  The over hijackers over powered by the passengers were picked up by the police & we all returned back to the main airport building after some comic moments when the passengers were jumping from the wings of the plane and landing on the ground in the most awkward position
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The relieved passengers after the ordeal
 Later on the flight IC 436 was once again rescheduled for departure. at night. But I avoided like a plague and took the night train to Delhi.

2 comments:

  1. The content seems to me quiet interesting and giving me the resemblance of my school essay 'A Journey By Train".

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