20000101

-Arrive in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The first of the freed hostages from the hijacked Indian Airlines plane landed in New Delhi late on Friday.

The passengers looked weary, but some managed grins as they walked down the stairs from the plane and were greeted by officials. One man stooped down and kissed the ground.

Waiting relatives threw bouquets of flowers into the air and garlanded some of the arriving passengers. Some of the hostages had to be supported to walk, but still waved weakly to the crowd.

Officials said the first flight was carrying 100 women, children and those in ill health. A second flight was expected to land half an hour later and a third flight - the hijacked jet itself - later on.-Reuters