flightdeck
October 14, 2000, 05:13 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/970000/images/_972429_hijack5_arrow_300.gif
A Saudi plane bound for London Heathrow was hijacked today, according to Egyptian civil aviation authorities.
The Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 115, believed to be a Boeing 777-200, had been scheduled to land at Heathrow at 1740, but was expected earlier at 1715.
It had taken off from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane after receiving the initial message at 1255.
Details of the hijacking were sketchy this afternoon. Officials at Stansted, where hijacked planes are diverted to, said they were not aware of the situation.
It was not known whether there were any Britons on board the plane, the Foreign Office said.
Tom Tomlinson, British vice consulate to Saudi Arabia, confirmed that the plane had landed in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Speaking from the British Consulate in Jeddah, Mr Tomlinson said: "We have just received information from Saudi Arabian Airlines that the plane has landed in Damascus.
"We do not have any more information as yet."
The Department of Transport is liaising with Saudi Arabia Airlines, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Services said. It is still not known if there are any Britons on board.
A Department of Transport spokesman said there were 98 people on board the hijacked Boeing 777-200 plane.
"I can confirm there is a hostage situation on a flight from Jeddah to Heathrow," the spokesman said.
"It was scheduled to land at Heathrow at 1740 today.
"There are 98 people on board including the crew. I have no information on how many of those are crew.
"Police opened the emergency control centre at Heathrow with a view to plans for a possible landing.
"I understand that the hijackers wanted the plane redirected. It has now landed at Damascus."
The spokesman added that he was in contact with Saudi Arabian Airlines and hoped to have more information soon.
The hijacker is claiming to have the explosive TNT on board the Boeing jet, according to local reports.
Israel Radio broadcast a message from the pilot to air traffic control at Cyprus in which he said the passengers were from all nationalities.
The pilot said: "The hijacker is saying that he has TNT on board and he might blow the aircraft. We have passengers from all kinds of nationalities."
[This message has been edited by flightdeck (edited October 14, 2000).]
A Saudi plane bound for London Heathrow was hijacked today, according to Egyptian civil aviation authorities.
The Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 115, believed to be a Boeing 777-200, had been scheduled to land at Heathrow at 1740, but was expected earlier at 1715.
It had taken off from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane after receiving the initial message at 1255.
Details of the hijacking were sketchy this afternoon. Officials at Stansted, where hijacked planes are diverted to, said they were not aware of the situation.
It was not known whether there were any Britons on board the plane, the Foreign Office said.
Tom Tomlinson, British vice consulate to Saudi Arabia, confirmed that the plane had landed in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Speaking from the British Consulate in Jeddah, Mr Tomlinson said: "We have just received information from Saudi Arabian Airlines that the plane has landed in Damascus.
"We do not have any more information as yet."
The Department of Transport is liaising with Saudi Arabia Airlines, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Services said. It is still not known if there are any Britons on board.
A Department of Transport spokesman said there were 98 people on board the hijacked Boeing 777-200 plane.
"I can confirm there is a hostage situation on a flight from Jeddah to Heathrow," the spokesman said.
"It was scheduled to land at Heathrow at 1740 today.
"There are 98 people on board including the crew. I have no information on how many of those are crew.
"Police opened the emergency control centre at Heathrow with a view to plans for a possible landing.
"I understand that the hijackers wanted the plane redirected. It has now landed at Damascus."
The spokesman added that he was in contact with Saudi Arabian Airlines and hoped to have more information soon.
The hijacker is claiming to have the explosive TNT on board the Boeing jet, according to local reports.
Israel Radio broadcast a message from the pilot to air traffic control at Cyprus in which he said the passengers were from all nationalities.
The pilot said: "The hijacker is saying that he has TNT on board and he might blow the aircraft. We have passengers from all kinds of nationalities."
[This message has been edited by flightdeck (edited October 14, 2000).]