At Stansted, the aircraft came to rest at a secluded spot on a runway on the north side of the airport, about half a mile from the main terminal, with it's lights flashing. Several fire engines, ambulances and police cars were assembled nearby.
"The police will be trying to make some sort of contact with the hijackers and begin negotiation to establish what they want," said a spokeswoman for the Home Office, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.
"Obviously, we are hoping for a peaceful solution to this situation. At this stage, we are not aware of any demands or requests from those on board the aircraft."
The hijackers, who have released 19 hostages, seized the aircraft en route from Kabul to the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif yesterday.
Over the last 20 years Stansted Airport has featured from time to time in hijack dramas. When planes have been taken over by terrorists and crews have been ordered to land in the UK, it has become routine for Stansted to be designated as the destination for the hijacked aircraft.
Stansted has been chosen because planes have been able to land there and be kept well away from the terminal building and other aircraft while negotiations can be carried on with the hijackers.
Stansted's record in this respect has been good with most hijackings ending peacefully with no passengers hurt and the terrorists surrendering.
The plane first landed in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, then took off after about four hours. Ten passengers allowed off the aircraft in Uzbekistan before it departed said there were eight to ten hijackers, armed with pistols and automatic weapons.
The plane was next forced to land in the northern Kazak city of Aktyubinsk because of a leak in its right fuel tank. Kazak special forces surrounded the aircraft and officials negotiated with the hijackers before allowing it to leave.
The plane later landed at Moscow where a further nine passengers were reported to have been released before it took off again last night and headed west.
Before leaving Moscow, Russian security sources warned the Boeing 747 could make "a European capital, possibly London", its next stop.
The hijackers are said to be demanding the release of an opposition figure opposed to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Useful links:
Afghan News Channel
Afghan Web
More about the Indian Airlines hijacking
Stansted airport
