Russian plane returns to Moscow after hijack attempt

Moscow, Dec 29 (UNI) Aeroflot passenger jet A-321 Airbus which in an hijack attempt by a drunkard was diverted from its course yesterday, returned here today, Russian news agencies reported.

The plane was flying from Moscow to Geneva with 168 passengers onboard when it had to make an unscheduled landing at Prague's Ruzyne international airport after the pilot announced an emergency due to an apparent attempt to hijack the plane.

The crew said the allegedly drunk 32-year-old hijacker, identified later as Yevgeny Dogayev, tried to break into the cockpit claiming that he had an explosive device with him and demanded that the crew change the plane's course and land in Egypt.

Aeroflot's air security service told RIA Novosti news agency that the suspected hijacker had been subdued in a fight with stewards and passengers and was handed over to police at the Prague airport, where the passengers spent about nine hours before the plane was authorised to leave for its original destination, Geneva.

The hijacker and his eight family members accompanying him on the trip, including three children, were removed from the plane.

Aeroflot officials said Yevgeny was presumably drunk and would undergo medical tests.

UNI XC SI MSJ DS1445