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Hijacked jet lands in Mexico City Mexican police end hijack drama
(39 minutes later)
A passenger plane with more than 100 people on board flying from the Mexican resort of Cancun has been hijacked and flown to Mexico City, officials say. Mexican police have arrested at least six hijackers who seized a passenger jet flying from Cancun to Mexico City.
Mexican media said the hijackers were Bolivians who threatened to blow the plane up unless they were allowed to speak to President Felipe Calderon. More than 100 passengers and crew on board the AeroMexico Boeing 737 were released unharmed, officials confirmed.
Officials told the BBC that the president was heading to the airport. Mexican media reported that the hijackers had threatened to blow the plane up unless they were allowed to speak to President Felipe Calderon.
TV footage from the scene later showed passengers disembarking and at least five men being led away in handcuffs. TV pictures showed the suspected hijackers being led away from the plane at Mexico City airport in handcuffs.
TV Azteca said that the AeroMexico aircraft was parked at the end of the runway and that those passengers seen leaving were carrying hand luggage and appeared calm. Transport minister Juan Molinar said there had been no bombs on board.
Military and security personnel were seen at the airport leading the suspected hijackers away from the plane. "The passengers are safe. There was no bomb," he said.
Police earlier said the hijackers had explosives taped to their bodies, but Mexico's transport minister was soon quoted denying that report, Reuters news agency said. "Various people who participated in the act have been detained and we are investigating," he said.
Mr Molinar did not give details of the hijackers, initially said to be three Bolivians. Reports said they were seeking political asylum in Mexico and had demanded to speak with President Calderon.
An official told the BBC while the hijacking was taking place that President Calderon had been on his way to the airport, but it is not clear if he made contact with the hijackers.
Passengers freed
Mexican media broadcast live images of the drama unfolding as the plane sat at the end of the runway and passengers were seen disembarking and being led away.
Some minutes later, at least six handcuffed men were seen being taken from the plane by armed police and driven away.
Earlier reports, citing police sources, said it was initially believed the hijackers had explosives taped to their bodies.
Mr Molinar said one of the hijackers held a package that some passengers believed resembled an explosive device.
It was not clear at what point in the flight the hijacking took place, although passenger Rocio Garcia told the Televisa TV network that the crew announced the plane was being hijacked when it landed in Mexico City.
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