Panic and anxiety gripped people in Indore on Friday as airport security personnel took positions following a hijack alert -- only to realise later that it was a mock drill, and heaved a sigh of relief.
Panic and anxiety gripped people in Indore on Friday as airport security personnel took positions following a hijack alert -- only to realise later that it was a mock drill, and heaved a sigh of relief.
HT Image
It all started when news spread in the morning that a hijacked Air India plane from Delhi is landing in Indore.
The information was spread to test the alertness of the security forces deployed at the Devi Ahilyabai Airport in Indore as part of the annual mock drill, Indore Airport Director Vivek Upadhyaya told PTI.
The mock drill coincided with the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States.
The airport staff was alerted at about 11 AM about the hijacking of the plane from Delhi and its landing in Indore, he said.
Within seconds the entire staff, including the CRPF personnel on security duty, went in alert mode and took positions to deal with any emergency, Upadhyaya said.
However, after an hour it was revealed to the personnel involved in the security that it was a mock drill. Their performance in such a situation was found to be satisfactory, he said.
Top administrative and police officials were present at the airport during the mock drill.
Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.