The capital's security apparatus was thrown into a tizzy on Wednesday morning when an Indian Airlines pilot pressed the hijack alert button accidently on a Srinagar flight, senior aviation officials said.

The alarm went off when the aircraft was about to take off.
 
The pilot, however, said the alarm malfunctioned.

Civil aviation minister, senior officers of the Delhi police, the Central Industrial Security Force and the National Security Guards were all on their way to the airport when it was established that the pilot had pressed the button accidently.

A crack team of CISF immediately surrounded the plane, even as hotlines and dedicated communication systems of the airports committee and the Crisis Management Group crackled to life.

All passengers on board IC-875 were later off loaded.
 
Authorities are now carrying out an inspection of the plane.

A senior aviation official said the plane would take off for Srinagar only after the inspection is over. "If there are further delays we would make alternative arrangements for passengers to reach Srinagar," he said.