New Delhi: The union cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to anti-hijacking law providing for death penalty even if ground handling staff are killed, sources said.

They said amendments to the anti-hijacking bill broaden the definition of hijacking and provide enhanced punishment to the perpetrators.

The earlier version of the bill provided that hijackers could be tried for death penalty only in the event of death of hostages and security personnel but the revised bill will enable the government to seek death penalty even if ground handling staff or airport personnel are killed.

The Anti-Hijacking Bill 2014, introduced in the Rajya Sabha in December last year, was referred to a parliamentary standing committee.