Passengers safe after hijack attempt on Dubai-bound plane in Bangladesh

All passengers on board a Dubai-bound Bangladesh Biman plane are safe after Bangladeshi security forces foiled a hijack attempt by a lone suspect on Sunday, a senior air force official says.

“We have successfully rescued everyone,” said Air Vice Marshall Mofid, who goes by one name, after security forces stormed the plane and arrested a 25-year-old man for attempting to hijack flight BG147 which had taken off from the capital Dhaka.

The plane landed safely at Chittagong airport in southeastern Bangladesh, where the passengers were evacuated.

#Bangladesh appears to have succeeded in foiling an attempt to hijack a Biman plane from Chittagong bound for Dubai. Pax appear to have disembarked and are safe. Hijacker still in the aircraft that has been surrounded by security staff. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/TKv6TrYPXe

— Dilsedesh (@Dilsedesh) February 24, 2019

Mofid tells reporters that the hijacker claimed he had a pistol, but he had since been taken into custody and is being questioned.

— AFP