Kee Hooi Yen 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2008 http://au.news.yahoo.com//080207/2/15rro.html Friday February 8, 08:04 AM NZ woman stabbed pilots: report A woman stabbed two pilots and threatened to blow up a plane in a hijack attempt on a New Zealand domestic flight early today, Radio New Zealand reported. The pilots' injuries were not immediately known but they were able to land the aircraft and none of the seven passengers on board was hurt. The woman was arrested after trying to hijack the small Air New Zealand plane on a domestic flight from Blenheim to Christchurch by claiming there was a bomb on board, according to news reports. Police confirmed an attempted hijack had occurred, but the plane made an emergency landing safely and was taxied to an isolated part of the airfield amid reports on the bomb threat, Radio New Zealand said. A stabbed pilot was able to walk off the plane, but was rushed to hospital. It is understood three or four people were taken from the airport by St John Ambulance. An army spokesman confirmed the bomb squad had been called in to defuse a device. It was reported to have been in the woman's bag. Wayne Johnstone, a passenger on board another flight to Invercargill, said he was asked to get off his flight and he saw police surrounding the aircraft involved, Stuff website reported. He said there was a sniper on the tarmac, and police rushed into the plane. "I saw a dog go in, the passengers came out in a rush, then the woman came out, bundled to ground and searched by police and taken away." All flights in and out of Christchurch airport were suspended this morning and the terminal building closed. Air New Zealand confirmed that "an incident" had occurred on the scheduled commuter flight and said one passenger was taken into police custody when it landed. It said the other seven passengers on board were all safe but gave no further details. About 7am (AEDT), the plane - flight NZ2279 - remained cordoned off on the runway, and an eye witness told NZPA the area was in utter chaos, with traffic banked up hundreds of metres. "Passengers are getting out of their cars and walking up to their flights, and staff are walking through to the airport," the man, who did not want to be named, said. Police later said a mayday call was received via the NZ Rescue Co-ordination Centre about 7.40am (0540 AEDT). "The pilots on board reported that a female passenger had attacked them in the cockpit, inflicting some minor injuries before she was removed from the cockpit," police said in a statement. They said the plane landed at 8.06am (6.06am AEDT) and all passengers got off the aircraft safely. The plane was currently being searched. Police will be holding a media conference at 10.30am (0830 AEDT) to update the situation. **** 'DIE HARD' movie ?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Irni Mastura 0 Report post Posted February 7, 2008 Egad.. Hope the injuries weren't serious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adrianqcs 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2008 time for secured cockpits for small aircrafts too? lol.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S V Choong 4 Report post Posted February 8, 2008 (edited) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story....jectid=10491291 Knife-wielding hijacker demanded to be flown to Australia (+photos,video) 5:30PM Friday February 08, 2008 By Jarrod Booker and Edward Gay Were you there or do you know this woman? Email us or call 09 373 6417 A 33-year-old Blenheim woman who allegedly stabbed two pilots in mid-air has been charged with hijacking and three counts of assault. She allegedly also injured a passenger, threatened others and demanded to be flown to Australia. She was arrested by armed police dog handlers at Christchurch Airport after allegedly stabbing the pilots of an Eagle Air flight. The woman was seated directly behind the door to the cockpit before entering it 10 minutes into the flight, armed with a knife. Police say the woman demanded that the pilots take the plane - which was only flying the short trip from Blenheim to Christchurch - over to Australia. A passenger who tried to restrain the woman also sustained knife injuries. The Somalian woman allegedly threatened other passengers and continued to wave the knife throughout the flight. She was grappling with the aeroplane's controls throughout the flight, police said in a press conference late this afternoon. It was only when the pilot bought the plane into land that rough conditions caused the woman to lose her footing. At this point, police say the co-pilot then wrestled the woman to the ground. Members of the armed offenders squad with dogs then stormed the plane. A taxi driver says the woman involved in the mid-air stabbing of two pilots seemed "vague" early today when he took her to Blenheim airport. The taxi driver, who identified himself as Colin, told Newstalk ZB: "She was a wee bit vague. He described her as "away with the fairies". "She couldn't work out where she wanted to go for while which I thought was quite strange at that time of the morning. "She was very nervous, very unsure of where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do. "It was a very strange ride actually - not the normal ride you get in Blenheim, put it that way." The two pilots have been praised for their courage after they were attacked and stabbed inflight by this morning. The pair both suffered injuries in the confrontation with one pilot receiving knife cuts to his hands and the other a foot injury. Despite the altercation, both pilots were able to safely land their Jetstream J32 at Christchurch airport, with its seven passengers unharmed. Air National chief executive officer Jason Gray said his company was proud of how its two pilots had handled an extremely difficult situation. "They did an amazing job, which reflects their high level of training and professionalism. We are currently providing them and their families with all necessary support," said Mr Gray. The pair were taken to Christchurch Hospital by ambulance where they were treated for their injuries. Meantime police have released details of their female attacker. The woman, who also allegedly made bomb threats, is a 33-year-old Blenheim resident. Police and Transport Minister Annette King has called for an urgent report on the incident. The woman, who police said was originally from Somalia, made bomb threats claiming there were two bombs on board the plane. Superintendent Dave Cliff said the passengers were not in danger of the aircraft "coming to grief" at any stage. He said the pilots' conversation with ground authorities was "somewhat stilted" but they were able to continue speaking with them. After an incident-free landing, the passengers left the plane through the rear and were immediately taken from the area by police. The pilots requested police board the plane. Mr Cliff said the woman has not been charged and it is too early to say what charges she could face. "We don't know exactly what was said. We don't know if she made any demands," Mr Cliff said. The army bomb squad is still checking the plane and passenger luggage for any signs of explosives. As it is not known if a bomb is on board, and due to the risks of aviation fuel, a wide cordon has been put in place around the plane. The international terminal is now being used for domestic flights after the airport re-opened just after 11am. Police in Blenheim are doing background checks on the woman. Mr Cliff said police have found two knives, one on the woman and one on the tarmac. The other passengers on board - four New Zealanders, one Australian and an Indian - are being spoken to by police. One witness earlier described the scene as "like something from a Bruce Willis movie". Andrew Sare said the woman was hauled off the plane by armed police, handcuffed and forced to the ground. Philippa Green, a passenger at the airport, said passengers were at first told to stay away from the terminal's windows but the entire airport was later evacuated. She said at the time: "There are people everywhere saying 'get out, get out, get out'." She was waiting on another plane when the incident unfolded. She saw the woman, who she described as being middle-aged and dressed in black clothes, being arrested by armed police. Ms Green said all shops and services are being evacuated after the reports that a bomb was on board the plane. Another eyewitness said the area was in utter chaos, with unmoving traffic banked up hundreds of metres. "Passengers are getting out of their cars and walking up to their flights, and staff are walking through to the airport," the man, who did not want to be named, said. A police statement issued earlier this morning said a Mayday call was received from the plane - an Air National Flight operated by Eagle Air travelling from Blenheim to Christchurch - at around 7.40am. The call, routed to police from the NZ Rescue Co-ordination centre in Wellington, said a female passenger had attacked the pilots before she was bundled out of the cockpit. The plane, a Jetstream J32, landed safely at Christchurch airport at 8.06am. It was towed to the far end of the airport. A source at Christchurch Airport said the woman was taken away in an ambulance, possibly suffering dog-bites. Police and Transport Minister Annette King said she has asked NZ Police and the Aviation Security Service to provide her and the Minister for Transport Safety, Harry Duynhoven, with urgent reports on the incident this morning. She said the matter was being handled by the police and the Aviation Security Service. St John Ambulance could only confirm that they attended an incident at the airport but would not comment further. Civil Aviation authority spokesman Bill Sommer said the passengers are safe and the aeroplane has been taken to an isolated spot on the tarmac He said an investigation into what happened on the flight will be carried out. - with NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB Going to Australia on such a small plane?? The plane will probably not even make it half way across the shark infested Tasman Sea Edited February 8, 2008 by S V Choong Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chan CS 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2008 I really wonder how the pilots land the a/c.. And how they secure the situation... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Irni Mastura 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2008 I really wonder how the pilots land the a/c.. And how they secure the situation... Who knows they might make it into a movie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S V Choong 4 Report post Posted February 8, 2008 News update about the hijacker for those who are keen: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story....jectid=10491514 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tarmizi 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2008 Yesterday about 800am , for about 20 - 30 mins or so, heard more than 8 of ambulance and police cars passed by my house. (anyway, my house is just 1km away, main road leading to NZCH) Thought it must be something serious. Never thought it was about the hijacking until I heard about it on the radio. It was a bit of chaos as I passed by the airport (after send my kids off to school). Police closed / divert the road leading to the terminal. Managed to get a glimpse of RWY29 from far, saw airport fire engine standingby on the taxiway. Heard snipers all over the place.Well they are all prepared if this kind of thing were to happen. This must be the NZ first aircraft hijacking in history.. and it was by a Somalian woman. No air traffic in/out of NZCH during those time, not quite sure how long it was closed. Anyway, good to hear the pilots were OK and manage to bring the plane down safely. Tarmizi Christchurch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BC Tam 2 Report post Posted February 8, 2008 "Passengers are getting out of their cars and walking up to their flights, and staff are walking through to the airport," the man, who did not want to be named, said. What the ....... ?! What happened to security ? Those pax really so worried about missing their flight or what ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chan CS 0 Report post Posted February 9, 2008 Yesterday about 800am , for about 20 - 30 mins or so, heard more than 8 of ambulance and police cars passed by my house. (anyway, my house is just 1km away, main road leading to NZCH) Thought it must be something serious. Never thought it was about the hijacking until I heard about it on the radio. It was a bit of chaos as I passed by the airport (after send my kids off to school). Police closed / divert the road leading to the terminal. Managed to get a glimpse of RWY29 from far, saw airport fire engine standingby on the taxiway. Heard snipers all over the place.Well they are all prepared if this kind of thing were to happen. This must be the NZ first aircraft hijacking in history.. and it was by a Somalian woman. No air traffic in/out of NZCH during those time, not quite sure how long it was closed. Anyway, good to hear the pilots were OK and manage to bring the plane down safely. Tarmizi Christchurch You heard snipers' sound all over the place? Or snipers were placed all over the place? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tarmizi 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2008 You heard snipers' sound all over the place? Or snipers were placed all over the place? Snipers placed all over the place.. must be the SOP though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wilber Tan 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2008 crazy woman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mohd Yohan 0 Report post Posted February 10, 2008 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story....jectid=10491291 Going to Australia on such a small plane?? The plane will probably not even make it half way across the shark infested Tasman Sea made my evening...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted February 10, 2008 Beech 1900D or Saab 340 ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
S V Choong 4 Report post Posted February 10, 2008 Beech 1900D or Saab 340 ? Pieter, Beech 1900D apparently Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
