Paris Hijacker Frees 15 Hostages

A former employee hijacked an aerospace company plane Friday in France and took 15 hostages, forcing the pilot to land at an airport outside Marseille, police said.

The Falcon 20 belonging to Serge Dassault Aviation was flying from Paris to the southern city of Istres when it was forced to land at Marseille-Marignane Airport, police said on customary condition of anonymity.

The hijacker, armed with a shotgun and grenades, first demanded to talk to his lawyer, authorities said. Police earlier had said he was armed with only a knife.

He then released 10 hostages unharmed but continued to hold the remaining five. He released those and surrendered about two hours after the plane landed, police said.

Police and firefighters were deployed around the plane.

The plane ferries employees between the corporate headquarters near Paris and the company's plant in Istres.

Dassault builds fighter planes including the Mirage and Rafale, as well as civilian planes including the Falcon.