Gunman Arrested In Jamaica Jet Hijacking
Police said a gunman who hijacked a plane in Jamaica had been captured Monday after an eight-hour standoff with police.
Police spokeswoman Camille Tracey said authorities disarmed the young man, whom authorities described as "mentally challenged."
Authorities said the 20-year-old Jamaican forced his way past security check points and seized the CanJet Airlines plane late Sunday night. He quickly released all the passengers and two crew members, but six crew members were held at gunpoint hours longer.
He demanded to be flown to Cuba, Information Minister Daryl Vaz told CNN.
Woodside said a shot may have been fired outside the jet, but nobody was reported injured.
Soldiers and police surrounded the plane as the talks continued before dawn, police Tracey said. The gunman's father assisted with negotiations, Information Minister Daryl Vaz told CNN.
CanJet Flight 918 had arrived from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was scheduled to stop in Santa Clara, Cuba, before returning to Canada, officials said.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding addressed all the passengers after they were debriefed by police and assured them that everything possible was being done to return them home quickly, police said.
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.
Hotel arrangements were being made for the passengers, Vaz said.
The charter airline is owned by Halifax-based IMP Group Ltd., according to CanJet's Web site.