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Plane Hijacked in Jamaica Airport, 140 Hostage

by Amitjha | April 19, 2009 at 09:57 pm

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BBC is reporting that at least 140 have been hijacked in Jamaica by armed man.

An unspecified number of passengers have been reported taken hostage on a flight at a Jamaican airport, CNN confirms.

A man is holding a number of hostages on board a plane in the Jamaican resort of Montego Bay, reports say.

The man reportedly breached security systems using fake ID and boarded the plane as it was preparing to take off at around 2230 local time (0430 GMT).

There are unconfirmed reports that a shot has been fired on board the Canada-bound charter plane. The gunman is said to have robbed passengers.

Police and security services have cordoned off the airport.

A Montego Bay police officer said a shot had been fired after the gunman, whose motives were unknown, breached security about 10 p.m. local time on Sunday (0300 GMT Monday) to force his way aboard the Halifax, Nova Scotia-bound CanJet charter flight at Sangster International Airport.

The officer, who asked not to be identified because he had not been authorized to discuss the hostage situation, said no one had been injured.

Most of the passengers released from the CanJet plane had been taken to Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, some of them suffering from shock, the officer told Reuters.

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Amy Judd

at 23:02 on April 19th, 2009

Scary stuff.

albertacowpoke

at 03:11 on April 20th, 2009

CBC reports that 6 crew members and the gunman are still on board and that negotiations are going on with the gunman. Prime Minister Harper, who is in Jamaica to on an official visit after the Summit of the Americas to fairry passengers back to Canada.

All passengers and 2 crew members are safe. There has been no damage to the aircraft. One shot was fired outside the aircraft (uncomfirmed).

Prime Minister Harper is deeply concerned. The PMO released a statement that the members of the RCMP and the Canadian High Commission were on their way to Montego Bay to provide assistance.

albertacowpoke

at 03:31 on April 20th, 2009

The gunman is believed to be a local man in his 20s. His father and other family members are involved in the hostage negotiations.

Having been in Jamaica several times this breach of security doesn.t surprise me.

A father of a passenger has talked to his son. The gunman came into the aircrafts with his firearm pointed at them. The passengers were on their way to a wedding. The gunman asked them for their money.

albertacowpoke

at 03:42 on April 20th, 2009

The gunman is a young Jamaican man. Some mental issues are involved. This is according to the Jamaican Information. The gunman.s demand was to go to Cuba. Money has been taken from the passengers. Passengers have been taken to two hotels in Montego Bay.

Rob Walker

at 03:41 on April 20th, 2009

Ok, my parents are heading back to Halifax from Cuba this weekend, I'm officially a little worried they might have been involved in this. Thanks for bringing us these updates, good to know no one has been harmed yet!

Re-reading the news stories, it seems like the flight was on its way to Cuba, not Halifax, so they should be fine. Yikes!