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Hijackers attempt to divert plane to Sochi

Turkish officials have a Ukrainian suspect in custody after he claimed to have a bomb aboard a flight and demanded the plane be diverted to Sochi.

By Gabrielle Levy
The Olympic flag flies next to the Russian flag during the Opening Ceremony for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
1 of 2 | The Olympic flag flies next to the Russian flag during the Opening Ceremony for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- A commercial flight landed safely in Istanbul after a passenger claimed he had a bomb and demanded the flight be diverted to Sochi.

Officials say an unnamed Ukrainian suspect is in custody after he attempted to force the crew of a Pegasus Airlines flight from Kharkov, Ukraine, to Turkey to fly to the Olympics host city, where opening ceremonies for the Games are underway.

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“While the plane was in the air, one of the passengers said that there was a bomb on board and asked the plane to not land in Sabiha Gokcen but rather to land in Sochi,” said Transport Ministry undersecretary Habib Soluk, according to Turkish media.

It was not immediately clear if the passenger had to be subdued, or if there was indeed an explosive aboard the flight.

The plane has been secured and passengers and crew were still inside the plane.

[New York Times] [NBC News]

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