Ariana Highjack alert - UAE
 

From the UAE "Gulf News"(8/1):

"A rumoured hijacking yesterday triggered alarm, prompting search of five Saudi-bound Afghan planes carrying Haj pilgrims - three at a military base in Dubai, one each at Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport. WAM, quoting Brigadier Mohammed Suwaidan, Deputy Commander of the UAE Air Force, said authorities received information from a friendly country about an attempted hijacking of Afghan aircraft with pilgrims on board.

Consequently, three aircraft were asked to land at a military base as a precautionary measure. The two other planes which were already at the two airports were searched as well but no evidence of hijacking was found. Passengers were questioned and investigations carried out, but there was no attempt to hijack the planes, another source said. The source said the aircraft left for Saudi Arabia late last night. Nobody was detained from the three planes.

Afghan Charge de Affaires Rashid Udin Mohammedi said in Abu Dhabi: "All the passengers are safe and cooperated with crew members and security forces during the entire incident".

Reports said the Ariana aircraft were asked to land by UAE authorities following a tip-off from U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan that they were carrying explosive materials.

Mohammedi said: "Afghan Civil Aviation Minister Mirwaiz Sadeq called a press conference in Kabul today to deny the hijacking reports."

He said one of the aircraft was flight FJ443, a Boeing 727, carrying 137 passengers and crew. The embassy could not provide details about the other flights that were forced to land.

"The flights were on their way to Jeddah, carrying Afghan pilgrims from Kabul, when they were forced to land," Mohammedi added.

Sharjah International Airport officials denied reports that an Ariana aircraft had made an "emergency landing" under hijack threats.

"The situation was totally normal and under control," said an official. He said an Ariana airline's Haj flight was searched as a precautionary measure."