Emergency Landing: Hijacked Indian Airlines Airbus Lands in Lahore

Captain D. Saran, facing fuel depletion, landed a hijacked Indian Airlines Airbus in Lahore. Pakistani authorities initially denied landing by switching off runway lights. Humanitarian grounds led to a reversal as the aircraft's fuel was nearly exhausted.

Captain D. Saran, the pilot of a hijacked Indian Airlines Airbus, radioed an urgent message to the Air Traffic Controller at Lahore, saying, ''I have only ten minutes of fuel left and I have no choice but to land.'' Forced by the dwindling fuel, the aircraft began its descent.

Pakistani authorities initially responded by switching off the runway lights, attempting to deny the hijacked aircraft the opportunity to land. The situation quickly escalated as the pilot reiterated the emergency.

In a change of stance, a spokesman from Pakistan's Foreign Office later confirmed that the aircraft was allowed to land on humanitarian grounds, acknowledging that the plane's fuel tank was near empty and immediate action was necessary to avoid a disaster.

(With inputs from agencies.)