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Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Attempted Hijack By Armed Passenger

Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Attempted Hijack By Armed Passenger

The flight, bound for Dubai, was forced to land in Chittagong

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A plane headed towards Dubai from Bangladesh has been forced to make an emergency landing after a man with a gun allegedly tried to hijack it.

The Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight was carrying 142 passengers to the United Arab Emirates, but had to make the emergency stop in Chittagong, on the Bangladeshi coast.

According to local media, the would-be hijacker attempted to storm the cockpit with a gun. Reports suggest that at least two members of the flight crew are being held hostage on the plane at Shah Amanat International Airport.

Police have confirmed that all of the passengers who were on board have been safely evacuated from the flight. Once the plane landed, it was surrounded by the Para-Commando unit of the Bangladeshi army.

Flights out of the airport have been grounded until further notice.

Bangladesh's Civil Aviation Secretary Mohibul Haque told the Daily Star: "The pilot made the emergency landing. All passengers were evacuated from the aircraft. Only the suspect and a cabin crew member are on board. Commando units have surrounded the aircraft."

A Biman Bangladesh Airlines plane.
PA

It is not clear what motivated the man - who is believed to be 25 years old - to attempt to hijack the aeroplane.

The Bangladeshi Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan told BD News 24: "So far we know, an armed man pulled a gun at the pilot's head. But all the passengers have disembarked. The pilot has also got off.

"We are certain that a suspect is still inside the plane,"


More to follow.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, News, travel, Asia