Kabul-Mashhad flight hijacking fails

May 12, 2010 - 0:0

An Ariana Afghan Airlines has landed in Iran safely following a passenger's attempt to hijack and crash the plane on its way from Kabul to the city of Kandahar.

The hijacking attempt failed when security personnel arrested the armed passenger with the help of other passengers, Iran's Fars News Agency reported on Monday.
The flight originated in Kabul with a stopover in Kandahar and destined to its final landing point in the holy city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.
The plane landed safely in Kandahar's airport, where Afghan security officials detained the hijacker for questioning. The assailant has claimed to be an Afghan soldier.
The aircraft was flying to the southern Afghan city from Kabul when the hijacker tried to take control of the plane with a knife.
An official at the Kandahar International Airport said the plane belonged to the private Ariana Afghan Airlines.
Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior has announced that the detained passenger is being interrogated. The hijacker's possible terror links are not yet clear.
(Source: Press TV)