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Turkish hijacking ends peacefully | Turkish hijacking ends peacefully |
(1 day later) | |
Two men who tried to hijack a Turkish plane have surrendered after all 136 passengers and crew escaped unharmed. | Two men who tried to hijack a Turkish plane have surrendered after all 136 passengers and crew escaped unharmed. |
The Atlas Jet plane was flying from Northern Cyprus to Istanbul when the two men tried to divert it to Iran. | The Atlas Jet plane was flying from Northern Cyprus to Istanbul when the two men tried to divert it to Iran. |
Instead, the pilot landed the plane in the southern city of Antalya, claiming it needed refuelling. | Instead, the pilot landed the plane in the southern city of Antalya, claiming it needed refuelling. |
Turkey's interior ministry said one of the hijackers was a Turkish national and the other had a Syrian passport. Their motives are not yet known. | Turkey's interior ministry said one of the hijackers was a Turkish national and the other had a Syrian passport. Their motives are not yet known. |
Earlier, Turkish Cypriot officials said the two men were Iranian nationals protesting against actions of the United States. | |
The hijackers announced after the plane landed that women and children could leave. | The hijackers announced after the plane landed that women and children could leave. |
But when the emergency exits were opened almost everyone rushed out, the BBC's Turkey correspondent Sarah Rainsford reports. | But when the emergency exits were opened almost everyone rushed out, the BBC's Turkey correspondent Sarah Rainsford reports. |
Many leapt from the wing of the plane to safety. | Many leapt from the wing of the plane to safety. |
The two pilots also jumped from the cockpit on the tarmac, in order to avoid having to fly the plane to Tehran. | The two pilots also jumped from the cockpit on the tarmac, in order to avoid having to fly the plane to Tehran. |
Eventually all passengers and crew members were released unharmed and the hijackers surrendered. | Eventually all passengers and crew members were released unharmed and the hijackers surrendered. |
They are being questioned by interior ministry officials. | They are being questioned by interior ministry officials. |
Passengers spoke of their panic as the hijack began, when, they said, the pilot appeared for a moment to lose control of the plane. | Passengers spoke of their panic as the hijack began, when, they said, the pilot appeared for a moment to lose control of the plane. |
Not uncommon | Not uncommon |
The men are not thought to have had guns, though passengers described a suspect package that might have been a bomb. | The men are not thought to have had guns, though passengers described a suspect package that might have been a bomb. |
Officials in northern Cyprus say their security checks are up to international standards and so far they have no reason to believe there were explosives on board. | Officials in northern Cyprus say their security checks are up to international standards and so far they have no reason to believe there were explosives on board. |
An official from the airline, Atlas Jet, said that there were 136 passengers and six crew on the plane when it left Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus. | An official from the airline, Atlas Jet, said that there were 136 passengers and six crew on the plane when it left Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus. |
Shortly afterwards two men tried to forced their way into the cockpit. | Shortly afterwards two men tried to forced their way into the cockpit. |
When they did not succeed, the men asked to be flown to Iran, but the plane landed in Antalya, after the pilot claimed it needed refuelling. | When they did not succeed, the men asked to be flown to Iran, but the plane landed in Antalya, after the pilot claimed it needed refuelling. |
Plane hijacks and bomb threats are not uncommon in Turkey, where a number of radical groups - ranging from Kurdish separatists to far-left militants - operate. | Plane hijacks and bomb threats are not uncommon in Turkey, where a number of radical groups - ranging from Kurdish separatists to far-left militants - operate. |
In the last 18 months several such incidents have been defused without any passengers being harmed. | In the last 18 months several such incidents have been defused without any passengers being harmed. |
Were you involved in the hijack drama? Send us your experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. | Were you involved in the hijack drama? Send us your experiences using the form below. If you have any pictures you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk. |
Find out more about how to send your pictures | Find out more about how to send your pictures |