Mock drill commandos surround plane at airport, terrorists surrender: 3 terrorists hijack flight of 65 passengers at airport, commandos carry out operation

At the Rajkot International Airport at 11.30 am on Thursday, a message was received that 'Air India flight has been hijacked', due to which there was a huge rush among the entire airport staff and security agencies. The reports that the lives of 65 passengers on board the plane were in danger created a tense situation. The 3 terrorists insisted on talking to the Union Home Minister demanding the release of their jailed comrades. However, after a strict cordon by the commandos and hours of struggle, the terrorists had to surrender, and in the end, the whole incident was revealed to be a mock drill to check the security arrangements. An anti-hijacking mock exercise was organised in Rajkot on Thursday to review the security arrangements. As soon as the ATC received the message of the hijack at eleventh in the morning, the city police commissioner, the chairman of the aerodrome committee, came into action and additional police commissioner Chaitanya Mandlik immediately rushed to the airport. A fire vehicle was deployed on the runway to prevent the flight from escaping. On the other hand, the commandos of the CISF's Quick Response Team quietly surrounded the flight from all sides. The terrorists pushed a passenger out of the flight injuring him to exert pressure, which was immediately rescued by an ambulance. As a representative of the Government of India, Additional Commissioner of Police Chaitanya Mandlik continued to negotiate with the terrorists. The terrorists were surrounded by the commandos as they approached the plane and strengthened the siege. Eventually, with no option but to surrender, the three terrorists were taken into custody and handed over to the police. The successful exercise was followed by a review of the contingency situation. In the half-yearly meeting of the Aerodrome Committee held thereafter, the DCP Hetal Patel, Airport Director Diganta Borah, security personnel and members of the committee were present.