Hostages Being Held On Plane In Jamaica

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Hostages Are Being Held On A Plane in Montego Bay, Jamaica, According To Reports | World News | Sky News

Two passengers, who were being held along with the crew on the CanJet plane in Montego Bay, have been released.

The rest of the passengers were released earlier and taken to nearby Cornwall Regional Hospital, some suffering from shock.

"Flight 918 was carrying 182 passengers and crew," Canadian charter airline Canjet said in a statement.

"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," it added.

The gunman boarded the charter flight on the tarmac at Sangster International Airport after gaining access through a security entrance around 10.30pm local time (0330 GMT).

He is said to have used several fake indentification cards to breach security.

At least one shot was fired inside the Canada-bound plane, according to reports, but it is not known whether anyone was hurt.
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The Times - Jamaica hijack passengers freed

 

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Update.
The Associated Press: Gunman holds plane, crew at airport in Jamaica

Gunman holds plane, crew at airport in Jamaica

7 minutes ago

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — A gunman described as "mentally challenged" hijacked a Canadian charter plane on the tarmac near the resort city of Montego Bay and was holding the flight crew hostage, officials said Monday.

The "mentally challenged youngster" boarded the plane in Montego Bay and demanded to be flown to Cuba, Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz told CNN. Nobody had been injured, officials said.

There were 182 passengers and crew aboard the Boeing 737, which arrived from Halifax, Nova Scotia, but all the passengers were released unharmed, according to a statement from CanJet Airlines.

The gunman and the crew of CanJet Flight 918 were still on board the plane early Monday, the airline said in a statement published early Monday on its Web site. Vaz said two crew members were released and five others were still on the plane.

The gunman's father was assisting with negotiations, Vaz said. Prime Minister Bruce Golding was traveling to Montego Bay in response to the emergency, Radio Jamaica reported.

Vaz said the gunman is Jamaican and about 20 years old. He did not detail the man's mental condition.

The situation began around 10 p.m. Sunday, according to Elizabeth Scotton, a spokeswoman for Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport.

The airline said "a full security operation is under way" and it is cooperating with authorities in this Caribbean island.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was in Jamaica for a one-day visit, was awakened with the news early Monday and was monitoring developments, his office told The Canadian Press.

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