PIA Flight 544

PIA Flight 554 is the flight number of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Fokker F27 that was hijacked on May 25, 1998.The flight started its journey at Gwadar in Balochistan after originating in Turbat, and was flying to Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi. The aircraft was carrying 24 passengers and 5 crew members.

Hostage taking

The hijackers, three students from Balochistan armed with TT-33 pistols, took control of the aircraft in midair and demanded the flight be diverted to New Delhi, India. They also demanded more access to resources for the Baloch people, which is mostly controlled by the government of Pakistan, and that the government refrain from using their territories as a nuclear weapons testing site.

After failed attempts of the plan to land in Indian territory, the plane was forced to retreat back into Pakistani airspace.

Landing in Hyderabad and the end of the standoff

The hijackers, under the impression they had landed in the Rajistan state of India, did not realise that the aircraft had actually landed in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Before Pakistani commandos could storm the plane, the entire episode ended, when the an army officer and a police officer who came as the negotiators along with the pilots overpower the hijackers. One hijacker was killed and the other two were taken into custody, while the co-pilot got injured when he was mistakenly struck by the fire-axe by his fellow.

Background

Over the past few decades, tensions have escalated between segments of Baloch society who believe they are not receiving the benefits of the natural resources present in their province. In recent years, the Pakistani government has vastly increased infrastructure development in the province, but violent protests still occur.

Crew on Flight

2 Cabin crew and 2 Cockpit crew operating on the flight

External links

* [http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19980525/14550474.html Article from expressindia.com]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/s/w_asia/99804.stm BBC article]