Bangladesh foils suspected attempt to hijack plane

DHAKA, Bangladesh

A suspected plane hijacker was killed in an operation by Bangladesh army in southern port city of Chattogram on Sunday, a military official said.

“The hijacker has been wounded during our commando operation and within short time he died,” Rashidul Alam Khan, assistant director of Bangladeshi army’s media wing, told Anadolu Agency

Khan said the hijacker was trying to take control of the Dubai-bound plane of Biman Bangladesh Airlines in the sky but failed as the flight crews and pilot somehow kept him engaged and able to ensure emergency landing.

“After safely landing all passengers were evacuated from the aircraft very tactfully,” he said, adding that army commandos had to exchange fire with the suspect as he declined to surrender.

The hijacker has been identified as Mahadi, 20, local daily Dhaka Tribune quoted army officer Maj. Gen. SM Matiur Rahman as saying.

The Dubai-bound plane had flown from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport of capital Dhaka at 3.20 p.m. local time (0920GMT) on Sunday.

The pilot of the plane made emergency landing in Chattogram as a cabin crew member raised alarm after finding the behavior of a passenger suspicious, local Daily Star quoted Civil Aviation Secretary Mohibul Haque as saying.