A pilot and passengers foiled a gunman who had hijacked a jetliner flying from Africa to the Canary Islands, Spanish officials said today.
A gunman with two pistols hijacked the Air Mauritania Boeing 737, carrying 71 passengers, last night shortly after it took off from the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott for Gran Canaria, one of Spain's Canary Islands.
The pilot braked hard on landing and then quickly accelerated to knock the man down so travellers could pounce on him, Spanish officials said today.
The pilot alerted passengers about the plan after realising the hijacker spoke no French, according to one official.
The hijacker has been identified as Mohamed Abderraman (32) a Mauritanian, said a a Spanish Interior Ministry official.
He reportedly wanted the plane to fly to France so he could request political asylum.
AP