The 33-year-old woman allegedly threatened to blow up the 19-seat plane and stabbed two pilots. (Reuters)
Posted on 02/08/2008 8:49:57 AM PST by Stoat
Posted
Updated
The 33-year-old woman allegedly threatened to blow up the 19-seat plane and stabbed two pilots. (Reuters)
Police say a Somali woman charged with trying to hijack an Air New Zealand flight this morning wanted the plane taken to Australia.
The 33-year-old allegedly threatened to blow up the 19-seat plane and stabbed two pilots in the cockpit - one in the hand and the other in the foot.
Police say she claimed two bombs were on the twin-engine Jetstream aircraft, which was travelling from the South Island town of Blenheim, but none have been found.
The woman, who lives in Blenheim, is due to appear in court tomorrow to face charges of hijacking and wounding with intent. Hijacking carries a maximum sentence in New Zealand of life imprisonment.
She and another passenger received minor cuts this morning and were treated at the airport.
Seven people were on the plane, including a Victorian man.
Superintendent Dave Cliff says the woman was tampering with the aircraft's controls while the pilots were trying to land.
"The aircraft landing was somewhat rough because of weather conditions here at Christchurch Airport," he said. "She ended up falling away from the controls and remained away during the actual landing."
"During the flight, demands were allegedly made by the suspect to take the flight to Australia," Superintendent Dave Cliff said.
Superintendent Cliff has praised the pilots for landing the plane safely in an intense and difficult situation.
Witnesses have told TVNZ that police and dog teams pulled the woman off the plane, while she was kicking and screaming, and tackled her to the ground on the tarmac.
They say the passengers then ran off the plane.
"People scurried to get off the plane," a male witness said.
"They were immediately told to hit the ground. The cops had their guns drawn and then they brought dogs out. The dogs went onto the plane."
Police say they found a knife on the tarmac near the aircraft and another on the woman.
Flights to and from Christchurch were suspended for two hours and the domestic terminal was evacuated while the plane was searched.
The pilots were taken to Christchurch Hospital. One has undergone successful surgery to his hand, while the other has been released.
Air New Zealand is reviewing its security systems after the incident.
It is believed there was no barrier in the plane to separate passengers from the cockpit.
Passengers taking domestic flights out of Blenheim airport are not subject to security checks, and hand luggage is not scanned.
I hope they let the dogs bite the hell out of her. Muzzies like that.
Regards
Just repeat after me, “It is a religion of peace.”
wrong title... correct title should be:
Hijacker 'wanted plane taken to Australia' (Mulsim Female stabbed commuter flight pilots)
Man! I hate them Mulsims! :)
They say the passengers then ran off the plane."People scurried to get off the plane," a male witness said.
"They were immediately told to hit the ground. The cops had their guns drawn and then they brought dogs out. The dogs went onto the plane."
So you survive a hijacking an threatened plane bombing only to be ordered to lay down and have a gun pointed at you.
In this case there appears to be quite a bit available to bite, which hopefully New Zealand's Finest Canines took full advantage of.
This is still very early on in this matter so I'm not surprised that it's not included in this account, but I would be very interested to see any followup reports on this as to whether any of the passengers made any attempt to restrain her. From these reports it seems that turbulence (either real or manufactured by the pilot) was the main thing that stopped her.
If you want on or off this aerospace ping list, please contact Paleo Conservative or phantomworker by Freep mail.
Somalian woman stabs pilots mid-air on New Zealand flight - Times Online
(edit)
A Mayday call was received about 7.40am (1840 GMT) New Zealand time and the flight landed at 8.06am. The pilots had continued to communicate with ground control, though this was reported to have been "somewhat stilted".
(edit)
Isn’t she kinda chunky for a Somali?
Pilots stabbed in attack on New Zealand plane
Reuters ^ | Feb 7, 2008 | Adrian Bathgate
Posted on 02/07/2008 7:43:37 PM CST by RDTF
I don't like it either, but in their defense they don't know for certain who's a victim and who's a perp in the initial moments. Plus it's a bit safer to by lying down if the plane blows up.
Apparently New Zealand's social services have been feeding her quite well, and she has been more than amenable to their largesse.
,,, there ya go. That's the defense in place right away. The government will appoint a lawyer thru legal aid and she'll end up with a State house to live in and get income from TV interviews and appearances in NZ WOMANS WEEKLY. Before you know it she'll be alongside Bono solving the world's problems. Air New Zealand will be caned by the government for threatening public safety.
,,, turbulent BUMP.
BTW, since no one said it, I’ll be the first:
TOTALLY FREAKIN’ GUILTY!!!
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Nothing even close came up when I did my normal pre-post search :-(
Ocean view, as well...
It’s over a thousand Nautical Miles from New Zealand to Australia. Who knew.
Wikipedia says that Jetstream 31 has a range of about 680 Nautical Miles. After that, she would have to get out and walk.
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