Pakistan beats deadline -- seizing Sikh skyjackers

October 1, 1981

Pakistani commandos disguised as sweepers sneaked aboard a hijacked Indian airliner, overpowered five Sikh separatists clutching long knives, and freed their remaining 44 hostages unharmed, officials said. The 20-hour hijack drama ended on the tarmac of Lahore Airport just over two hours before a deadline set by the hijackers ran out.