Breaking: Turkish passenger plane hijacked

[RB TexLa]

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) A Turkish television station reports that an airplane has been hijacked on its way from Northern Cyprus to Istanbul.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070818/ap_on_re_mi_ea/turkey_hijacked_plane

STANBUL, Turkey - Hijackers claiming to have bombs and to be members of al-Qaida hijacked a Turkish passenger plane on Saturday as it was heading from northern Cyprus to Istanbul, officials and passengers said.

The hijackers had asked that the Atlastjet Airlines plane be diverted to Iran or Syria but the pilots landed the plane at Antalya airport in southwestern Turkey, said Tuncay Doganer, CEO of Atlasjet.

Most of the passengers managed to escape from the rear exit of the plane while the hijackers were releasing the women from the front exit, one passenger told the private Turkish television station NTV.

Doganer said only crew and "a small number" of passengers were left on board. CNN-Turk television said two crew — possibly the pilots — and nine passengers were still inside

[Selatius]

1. Why would they target a plane likely full of Turkish Muslims?

At first read, I guessed it was Kurdish separatists who wanted the government in Ankara to grant concessions and free comrades in Turkish prisons in return for the release of passengers.

[saracat]

2. Uh! Oh.Buschco will loove this! Terra! Terra!

[n2doc]

3. no real al-Q member would want to go to Iran

Sunni's don't do well there...

[spindoctor]

4. Most passengers escaped from the rear while the hijackers released women from the front

Yup, sounds like the hard core evil genius terrrerests that plan their attacks carefully down to the last detail.

For the record, this is not even an international flight.

[mogster]

5. "Diverted to Iran"

Says it all. Or, no, it doesn't.

This is not in accordance to what we know about al-Queda.

Al-Queda is known not to take prisoners, but kill all instead. They're - supposedly - doing attacks to get the shock effect, the fear. They don't land planes at airports and even release hostages.
Al-Queda is sunni muslim, Iran is shiite muslim.

It will be interesting to see how this develops.

[Disturbed]

6. It seems that every attack these days is al Q.

Hmmmmm...Makes one wonder.

[Phrogman]

7. Here Alquida, there alquida, we'we alls aquida now...

tape your window, lock your doors!

Stupidity owns then now.