Attempt to hijack Saudia flight foiled
By Saud Al-Tuwaim, Arab News Staff
JEDDAH/KHARTOUM, 16 October — Security officers aboard a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight from Khartoum to Jeddah foiled a hijacking attempt by a Saudi gunman yesterday, the airline and Sudanese police said.
Interior Minister Prince Naif said that the hijacker, Adel Nasir Ahmad Faraj, 30, will be extradited to the Kingdom after the Sudanese authorities complete their investigations.
Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Abdullah Mohammed Al-Harithy dismissed suggestions that Faraj had any links with Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network.
Speaking to Arab News from Khartoum, Al-Harithy said he was awaiting results of an investigation by Sudanese security authorities. He said Faraj had registered his passport with the Saudi Embassy about nine months ago. But after the hijack attempt, he told the ambassador that he came from the Kingdom to Sudan nine days ago.
Faraj tried to hijack Saudia Flight No. 450, flying from Khartoum to Jeddah with 185 passengers and a 19-member crew on board. Guards on the aircraft subdued the pistol-toting Saudi who tried to take control of the plane shortly after takeoff from Khartoum airport. "The hijack drama lasted only 15 minutes," Al-Harithy said.
Dr. Khaled ibn Bakr, director general of Saudia, told Arab News that the airline had sent a special plane to Khartoum to pick up the passengers on board the hijacked aircraft, which is expected to reach the Kingdom this morning. Bakr said the incident will not affect Saudia flights to Khartoum. "Our aircraft are guarded by efficient security forces," he added.
Maj. Gen. Hussein Osman, spokesman for Sudanese police, said the would-be hijacker was being interrogated. "Twenty-two minutes after the plane left Khartoum airport, a man armed with a pistol stood up and announced he had hijacked the plane," Saudia said in a press statement. "The captain immediately diverted the plane toward Khartoum while special forces aboard the plane immediately overpowered and disarmed the hijacker with the help of the crew," it added.
On the plane’s landing in Khartoum, the hijacker was handed over to Sudanese authorities. The passengers, crew and security personnel were safe and sound. The plane landed at Khartoum airport at 11:25 a.m. (0925 GMT), about one hour after the hijacking attempt, a spokesman for the airline said.
The Sudanese Interior Ministry said Faraj tried to hijack the Airbus 300 plane about 20 minutes and 70 kilometers after takeoff. The authorities searched the plane for explosives but found nothing, and an investigation has been opened.
State-run Sudanese TV ran footage of the plane at Khartoum airport, showing emergency exit slides that were used to evacuate the passengers, as well as sniffer dogs and blue-uniformed security forces in action.