CanJet hijack in Jamaica

[Homer]

Hi,

Just on the news, a CanJet has been hijacked while still on the ground at Montego Bay, Jamaica, while passengers destined for Canada were still boarding.

More info on;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8007546.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/ ... .security/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517124,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cHabu]

.

Jamaican PM negotiates with hostage-taker.

(CNN) -- An armed man released all passengers but continued to hold five crew members hostage early Monday inside a charter plane at a Jamaican airport, officials said.

Police had the CanJet flight surrounded at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and were negotiating with the hostage-taker. It was not immediately known what the man's demands were.

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, along with the country's ministers of national security and information, flew in by helicopter to oversee the negotiations, Television Jamaica's news director said.

Passengers were boarding the flight to Halifax, Canada, when the man took an undisclosed number of them hostage late Sunday, said Elizabeth Scotton, a spokeswoman for the company that manages the airport.

About 150 people were scheduled to be on the flight, said Jamaican police Lt. Col. Derek Robinson, and it was not known how many were on the plane when it was commandeered.

Christen Gosslin, a passenger on the flight, told his father that the gunman demanded cash from the plane's occupants.

"The guy wanted to have all their money," said Gosslin's father, Alphonse. "He (my son) told his girlfriend to take all the money and just take her passport and credit card and put it in her back pocket."

Christen Gosslin was part of a 25-person wedding party. He and his girlfriend were released by the hostage-taker, and they spoke to his father in New Brunswick, Canada, while waiting for another flight.

"I didn't ask them too many questions; I was more concerned for their safety," the father said. "They were a bit shaken up. It was quite an experience."

Another passenger, Brenda Grenier, called her husband and said a man apparently had sneaked aboard the plane and had taken hostages. Grenier and her daughter were safe, her husband said by phone from his home in Nova Scotia, Canada.

[cHabu]

.

CANJET AIRLINES

Transmitted on : April 20, 2009 03:16

CanJet Statement on Flight 918

HALIFAX, April 20 - At approximately 23h30 ADT an incident occurred
on CanJet Airlines Flight 918 at Sangster International Airport at Montego
Bay, Jamaica. CanJet Airlines Flight 918 was being operated for Transat Tours
Canada.

We are still working with officials there to gather information, but at
this time we know CanJet Flight 918 flying from Halifax, Nova Scotia, had made
a scheduled landing at Montego Bay when an armed man boarded the aircraft.
A full security operation is underway and CanJet is cooperating fully
with the local authorities.
Flight 918 was carrying 182 passengers and crew. All passengers have been
safely removed from the aircraft, but CanJet crew and the armed man remain on
board. Our understanding is that no harm has come to anyone remaining on board
and no there has been no damage to the aircraft.
CanJet takes very seriously its commitment to security onboard its
aircraft and does everything it can to promote safety. Our priority at this
time is well-being of the passengers and crew who were involved in the
incident.

A 1-800 number is being set up for anyone who may be concerned about
family or relatives who may have been travelling on CanJet Flight 918. We will
provide the number on our website, http://www.canjet.ca" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, as soon as possible.
In the meantime, we will provide you with any new information as it
becomes available.

[air-bus]

(CNN) -- Police in Jamaica have captured an armed man who had barged onto a passenger jet at an airport, robbed passengers and held six crew members hostage Monday, Jamaica Information Minister Daryl Vaz said.
The gunman, described by Vaz as "mentally challenged," seized the Boeing 737 late Sunday at Sangster International Airport in the resort city of Montego Bay and demanded passage to Cuba.
The CanJet Airlines flight had flown in from Halifax, Canada, and had made a scheduled landing at Montego Bay. It was scheduled to continue on to Santa Clara, Cuba.
The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members, said Kent Woodside, the airline's vice president. The passengers, all Canadian, were released along with two crew members by the gunman earlier Monday.
The gunman fired a shot in the boarding bridge to the plane as he entered, Woodside said.
He then took an undisclosed number of passengers and crew members hostage, said Elizabeth Scotton, a spokeswoman for the company that manages the airport.
All but six were released unhurt.
Two of the six crew members who remained inside the plane Monday locked themselves in the cockpit, Vaz said.
Among those negotiating with the man were his father and Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who flew in by helicopter. The country's minister of national security also was at hand.
"We are relieved that all the passengers involved in this incident are safe as well as two crew members, and our top priority is to provide the safe release of the remaining crew members," Woodside said.
The passengers were taken to a hotel, Vaz said. The airport was shut down.
Christian Gosselin, a passenger on the flight, told his father that the gunman demanded cash from the plane's occupants. Vaz confirmed the account.
"The guy wanted to have all their money," said Gosselin's father, Alphonse. "He (my son) told his girlfriend to take all the money and just take her passport and credit card and put it in her back pocket."
Christian Gosselin was part of a 25-person wedding party. He and his girlfriend were released by the hostage-taker, and they spoke to his father in New Brunswick, Canada, while waiting for another flight.
"I didn't ask them too many questions; I was more concerned for their safety," the father said. "They were a bit shaken up. It was quite an experience."
Another passenger, Brenda Grenier, called her husband and said the man apparently got aboard the plane as airport workers were loading bags.
Grenier and her daughter were safe, her husband said by phone from his home in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Source

Regards,
Arno