New Delhi -- About 12,000 employees of Indian Airlines went on a nationwide strike, seeking back pay and a wage hike from the airline.

Flights were delayed as ground crews, security personnel and baggage handlers of the state-run carrier walked off their jobs Tuesday after talks between workers and management broke down, Indo-Asian News Service reported Tuesday.

"We decided to go on strike after the management failed to meet our long-pending demands," J.K. Badola, Air Corporation Employees Union general secretary, said.

Indian Airlines, however, said the strike was illegal because talks were continuing.

"The matter was before the Regional Labor Commissioner and talks were on, but they chose to go strike, which is illegal," Indian spokesman Anil Sharma told the Indo-Asian News Service. "We are still interacting with the union leaders."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.