Sudanese hijack ends, 103 passengers safe

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

KHARTOUM, Jan 24 (Reuters) A hijacked Sudanese plane has landed safely in the Chadian capital N'Djamena and all 103 on board are safe as the Sudanese hijacker requested asylum from the French embassy, an airline official said today.

The Air West domestic Sudanese flight was diverted by an armed Sudanese man at 1130 hrs (IST) who demanded the Boeing 737 fly onto N'Djamena.

''The plane has landed ... the hijacker was met by the French ambassador and all the passengers are safe,'' said Ahmed Salih, commercial director of Air West in Sudan.

The plane was on its way to Sudan's western Darfur region and was hijacked by the unidentified Sudanese man carrying an AK-47 rifle 30 minutes after takeoff, air officials said.

There were 95 passengers and eight crew on board, a Sudanese civil aviation spokesman said.

It was not immediately clear how the weapon got on board the aircraft but Sudanese security is lax, especially on internal flights.

With a four-year-old conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, which borders Chad, guns are easily accessible.

Chadian-Sudanese relations are strained as both capitals accused each other of supporting insurgents who aim to topple their governments.

REUTERS SSC HT1520

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