Lebanese held over hijacking threat
A Lebanese passenger who allegedly attempted to hijack a Royal Jordanian airliner was overpowered by security guards as it approached Bangkok airport.
Jamal Hamad Saif was grabbed by Jordanian guards as Flight 184 from Amman bound for Kuala Lumpur arrived in Thailand, Information Minister Nabil Sharif told Jordan’s Petra news agency on Saturday.
As the plane prepared to touch down, Saif reportedly claimed he was carrying explosives and wanted to hijack the plane.
But security staff who searched the aircraft and Saif’s luggage failed to find any weapons or explosives.
Drunk
Hinting at one likely reason for the passenger’s behaviour, Thai police suggested Saif had been drunk at the time.
Saif has been kept on the plane and was due to be flown back to Jordan on Sunday for questioning.
Airline security has been tightened following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States. But this has not dissuaded some passengers from making threats that were bound to land them in trouble.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates arrested two passengers last December after they threatened to blow up another Royal Jordanian flight – because they were unhappy with their meal.