New Delhi: The pilot of the Srinagar-bound Indian Airlines plane on August 20 created panic at the Indira Gandhi International Airport when he accidentally pressed the hijack alarm button, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airport sources said.

CISF personnel, responsible for security of the airport, and fire tenders immediately surrounded the plane after the Air Traffic Control (ATC) received a distress signal, they said.

However, all passengers were safely evacuated.

Minister of state for Civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that a "false alarm" had emanated from the cockpit of the plane activating the emergency precautionary system.

"Now everything has been set right," he said adding an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain how the false hijack alarm was triggered.

Ruling out any action against the pilot for the moment, Rudy said the incident had demonstrated that the "system" is working efficiently.

PTI