This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6293649.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hijacker sends Sudan jet to Chad Hijacked Sudan jet lands in Chad
(about 1 hour later)
A Sudanese passenger plane has been hijacked and diverted to the capital of neighbouring Chad, reports say. A hijacked Sudanese passenger jet has landed in N'Djamena, capital of neighbouring Chad.
Officials said the Boeing 737 was hijacked in Khartoum and expected to land in N'Djamena. Officials said the Air West Boeing 737 with 103 people on board had been heading from the capital Khartoum to El Fasher, in the Darfur region.
An official for the Air West airline told the Reuters news agency that the flight had 103 people on board. The lone hijacker, who was reportedly seeking political asylum in France, was arrested at the airport.
He said a lone gunman had seized control of the plane at about 0900 (0600 GMT). There was no indication of any other demands, or of any motive. Sudan accuses Chad of backing rebel forces in the Darfur region, while Chad says Sudan aids Chadian rebel groups.
Relations between the two counties have been poor for some time, and diplomatic relations were temporarily halted in 2006.
Surrounded
Air West officials told news agencies that the hijacked plane landed safely in the Chadian capital.
It took off at about 0900 (0600 GMT) and was said to have landed at about 1130 (0830 GMT).
Chadian security forces surrounded the plane at the airport as passengers were led to safety, the AFP news agency said.
Air West, based in Khartoum, is a privately owned company, and operates domestic passenger services and international cargo charters.