Dramatic moment plane hijacker is dragged from his seat by police after demanding his flight to Moscow is diverted to Afghanistan, forcing pilot to land
- Aircraft was flying to Moscow when man demanded it be diverted to Afghanistan
- Aeroflot plane, carrying 76, was forced to land 150 miles short of Russian capital
- There are conflicting reports in Russia over whether the suspect was armed
- Footage has emerged showing armed officers dragging the man off the aircraft
This is the dramatic moment a plane hijacker was arrested by Russian police after he demanded the jet be diverted to Afghanistan.
The suspect threatened crew and ordered them to change course shortly after the Aeroflot plane, carrying 76 people, took off from the Siberian city of Surgut.
Instead, the pilot landed in in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk about 150 miles to the west before police dragged the man off the plane in front of shocked passengers.
Officials said the man was drunk, claimed to have a weapon and had tried to break into the cockpit during the flight.
Snipers descended on the scene when the plane landed and footage from inside the cabin shows armed officers with balaclavas leading the man off the Boeing 737.
Dramatic footage has emerged showing the moment a plane hijacker was arrested by Russian police after he demanded the jet be diverted to Afghanistan
Footage from inside the cabin shows officers with balaclavas leading the man off the Boeing 737
The Aeroflot flight to Moscow was forced to divert after a passenger demanded that the plane be landed in Afghanistan. Footage shows the plane coming in to land in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk - 150 miles short of its intended destination
Ten police teams were dispatched to the airport (pictured). Local news sites claim that the suspect had been detained for drunken behaviour in the past
Passengers broke out into applause when the man was taken away.
The captain is heard demanding passenger take their seats as the officers - Russian national guards under the direct control of President Vladimir Putin - dealt with the suspect.
The national guard officers wore airport security uniforms in a bid to fool the hijacker, said a report. The aim was that he did not understand the plane was being stormed.
An announcement is heard on the video saying in Russian and English: “Ladies and gentleman, this is the captain speaking, take your seats immediately. Immediately.”
Officers are seen dealing with the hijacker who appears to be on the floor in the plane aisle. Passengers remained calm throughout.
Police are believed to have confiscated his gun and checked his belongings before taking him off the aircraft. There are no reports of injuries to passengers.
The airport was reported to be 'partially evacuated' and the jet was stood on the runway in Khanty-Mansiysk for more than an hour before law enforcement officials went on board. The alleged hijacker was in seat 14a.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but it is understood the man had made demands for the plane to divert to Afghanistan.
Sources say cabin crew on flight SU 1515 were able to convince the man that the plane needed to touch down to refuel.
Ten police teams were dispatched to the airport. Local news sites claim that the suspect may be mentally unstable and that he had been detained for drunken behaviour in the past.
The Russian Investigative Committee launched a criminal case into the episode.
Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said initial information was that the man was 'intoxicated - threatening that he has a weapon'.
She said: 'During the flight tried to break into the cockpit and demanded to change the course of the aircraft.
'The aircraft commander decided to make an emergency landing in Khanty-Mansiysk. A man was detained.
'He turned out to be a resident of Surgut, who had previously been convicted of damage to property.
'A reinforced investigative team is working at the scene of the incident. The necessary investigative actions are taken to establish all the circumstances of the incident.'
Aeroflot said no one was hurt in Tuesday's incident.
'We suggest you talk to the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee', the airline representative said. The committee soon afterwards confirmed the man had been detained.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but it is understood the man had made demands for the plane to divert to Afghanistan
The Boeing 737, which was carrying 76 people including 69 passengers, touched down in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk
'The crew managed to persuade the passenger to agree to refueling in Khanty-Mansiysk,' said a source.
Footage from TV360 showed the plane landing in the city. The man's motive was not immediately clear.
The flight from Surgut departed 2.55pm local time and washed been due to land at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport at 4.20pm Moscow time.
It comes days after tourists on a crowded holiday jet heading for Russia 'neutralised' a drunk passenger by tying him up with sticky tape and belts.
They acted after the crew were unable too subdue the man - and the pilot made it clear he was ready to make an emergency landing to hand the 'hooligan' over to police in China or Mongolia.
The passenger - aged 26 and reportedly recently released from prison in Thailand - 'swore and attacked' travellers seated near him on the A320 flight from Bangkok.
