The Maharashtra Government said on Thursday that the Union Home Ministry has warned it of a possible hijack at the Mumbai [Images] airport and advised the authorities to keep a watch on private aircraft.
     
State Home Minister Jayant Patil said that the Centre had issued an advisory on Wednesday to the Maharashtra Government over a possible hijack attempt at the Mumbai airport.
    
The MHA advisory directed the authorities to keep a watch on private aircrafts at the airport, Patil told media-persons in Mumbai.
    
The Centre also stressed for the need of sanitising parking bays of small aeroplanes and helicopters besides ensuring their safety, he added.

"The advisory states that care should be taken to ensure that aeroplanes and helicopters do not fall into the hands of
terrorists," Patil said.
    
"Accordingly, instructions have been issued to boost safety measures in parking bays of aircraft and helicopters," Patil said.

The Union home ministry on Thursday evening has denied that it has at any point of time sent any advisory to the Maharashtra goverment about  a hijack threat to the Mumbai airport.

Television reports claimed that the home ministry sources had tipped them off about the home ministry's advisory.

"No such advisory was issued," the ministry said in its report.

Additional Reportage: PTI