Plane Hijack in Jamaica??

[Severe Clear]

Just heard on the news an aircraft heading to Canada has been Hijacked In Jamaica... Anyone know anymore?

[roger.roger]

Canjet, No passengers on board. Hope the crew was off too

[MS737]

I saw on the news that it is a Canjet flight. No injuries reported, 7 hostages. FO, 4 FA's and 2 pax.

[roger.roger]

any idea what group it was?

[Severe Clear]

Just heard it was scheduled to depart for Halifax...

[HS-748 2A]

One report is indicating it a flight to Halifax.

Edit: Correction - flight is a CanJet B737-800 - the destination is Halifax.

CNN Reports passengers being held hostage by man with handgun.

Reports of gunshots fired - previous reports of a crew member being killed have been debunked.

Aircraft is on the tarmac. Most passengers - apparently 167 - have been released and negotiations are underway with the gunman. 2 passengers, cabin crew members, and first officer are said to be onboard the aircraft.

CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/am...ity/index.html

According to one report the hijacker brandished a handgun at security and made his way onto the flight, which had already boarded.

Edit: BBC News Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8007546.stm

[Severe Clear]

Not good.... Hope this one has a happy ending..

[Severe Clear]

Found more..

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/bre ... aking5.htm


Pilot shot dead??? wtf...

http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/3706 ... maica.html

[flyincanuck]

Reuters is saying no one is hurt yet.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/i ... R020090420

Fingers crossed.

[flyincanuck]

The story has changed on the above link. They first quoted Radio Jamaica of saying no one has been hurt. Now a three-liner from what CNN is reporting.

(edit)- from radio jamaica:

A lone gunman broke through the security checkpoint at the Sangster International Airport around ten thirty Sunday night and fired his weapon aboard a Canadian flight destined for Halifax .

Chaos erupted when the man, said to be Caucasian, brandished a gun, knocked over security personnel at a departure lounge checkpoint and sprinted onto the tarmac where Canjet charter flight 918 was boarding passengers.

Reports are that the man fired a single shot, but no one was injured by the bullet.

Panicked passengers and the flight crew were held hostage for a few hours by the gunman, who reportedly was demanding that he be flown out of the country. He eventually released most of the passengers, sources say.

However it is believed that two passengers and the flight crew of 5-persons is still being held hostage on board the aircraft. A heavy contingent of police and soldiers has shut down the airport and has surrounded the plane, preventing its departure. At 1:00 a.m. Monday morning, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Security Minister Dwight Nelson, among other top government officials were headed to Sangster International, to get first hand updates on the situation.

[flystraightin]

Crew and the gunman are still onboard. Canjet has been updating their website to reflect any changes.

http://www.canjet.com/en_travel_advisory.aspx?ID=20

[orbit]

Time to boycott the Aiport till they get their act together...how does a guy with a gun get to the plane....his cousin work secuity?
Hope the come out ok ,,,the crew that is !

[plhought]

The Jamaica Gleaner's website claims to have identified the hijacker (Jamaican National) and seems to be pretty on top of the story:

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/

Claims man used forged ID cards.

Thinkin' about the crew now. Jeez. Scary

[Prairie Chicken]

CTV are now reporting police have the hijacker in custody. Details yet to come. News earlier was saying he was a 20-year old national with "mental disabilities".

Cautiously, it looks like the situation has been successfully resolved.

[LegoMan]

I was on this CanJet 737-800 back in December

[CAL]

he will be back next week:)....
glad all ok

[Dash-Ate]

globe is reporting all are ok. I hope the crew gets a long break and maybe some help dealing with this trauma. It would freak me out for sure.

And we must thank our lucky stars that security removed this hijacker's nail clippers before he boarded or this could have been much much worse.

[sissyphus]

How does Suhana Marchand have a job? She asks the stupidest questions. I can't take it.

[2milefinal]

How does Suhana Marchand have a job? She asks the stupidest questions. I can't take it.

She IS too much to take. I turned her off.

[OntheNumbers]

Looks like all is well and the hijacker is in custody...

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/04/2 ... unman.html

I'm sure there must be audio/video followups on their way too.

[Just another canuck]

Glad no one got hurt.

[PIC@Sunwing]

Congrats to all involved.

[FighterPilot]

I find it interesting that PM Harper was coming through. You would think that security would have been increased.

[Clark Kent]

Press Release from AT Website.

Montreal, April 20, 2009

Transat confirms that its customers, as well as the crew aboard CanJet Flight 918, have been freed after being involved in a hostage-taking that began on April 19 at 11:30 p.m. ADT on the tarmac at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. All passengers and crew are safe and sound and no one was injured during the operation.

CanJet Flight 918 was en route from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Montego Bay and Santa Clara, Cuba.

Passengers’ families and friends can obtain information by calling the CanJet information line at 1-888-777-6429. Passengers will have access to psychological support services.

Transat is currently taking the necessary measures for passengers to be able to continue their trip.

All Transat and Transat Holidays operations in and out Halifax and Montego Bay are continuing as normal.

About Transat
Transat A.T. Inc. is an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries. A holiday travel specialist, Transat operates mainly in Canada and Europe, as well as in the Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean Basin. Montreal-based Transat is also active in air transportation, destination services, accommodation and distribution. (TSX: TRZ.B, TRZ.A)

http://www.transat.com/en/media/news.aspx

[Intentional Left Bank]

The names of the flight crew have been published in this story: http://www.calgarysun.com/news/canada/2 ... 76176.html