Afghan airliner hijacking over, British police say

A hostage walks out of the plane with his arms raised 

February 10, 2000
Web posted at: 2:46 p.m. HKT (0646 GMT)

From staff and wire reports

LONDON (CNN) -- The hijackers of an Afghan airliner freed the last of their hostages Thursday morning, bringing a four-day ordeal to an end at an airport outside London, British police said.

The release of the roughly 65 passengers remaining aboard the Ariana Airlines jet began shortly before 6 a.m. (0600 GMT) at London's Stansted airport, where the plane has sat since Monday. The hijackers had released 85 hostages about three hours earlier, at 3:30 a.m. (0330 GMT).

	 AUDIO
British police spokesman Joe Edwards briefs the media after the last hostages were released early Thursday 584k/56 sec. AIFF or WAV sound


The hostages walked down the steps at the back of the plane, and proceeded across the tarmac to waiting vehicles. Some appeared to be holding their arms in the air.

The first group of hostages was taken to a safe location for debriefing and a medical checkup. The officials were trying to determine what was taking place on the plane. However, the authorities were providing few details.

There were reports the hijackers -- armed with guns, knives and grenades -- were seeking asylum. But some have suggested offering asylum would set a dangerous precedent for England.

Three fire trucks and an armored security vehicle were seen standing by the side of the aircraft.

Earlier, two people got down from the back ramp of the aircraft, according to eyewitnesses, after the aircraft was cleaned and food and water provided to the hostages.

"Our primary aim is the passengers on board -- we will negotiate for however long it takes," Essex County police spokeswoman Helen Cook said early Thursday.

But signs of being confined for so long in such a small space were starting to show in little ways.

After four people came off the plane to pick up a shipment of supplies Wednesday afternoon, a man armed with a handgun took a walk around the aircraft with an unarmed second man, inspecting the exterior of the aircraft.

Correspondent Chris Burns
contributed to this report

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Ariana Airlines
London Stansted airport
The Boeing Company
  •727 Family
Afghanistan News Service
Kabul airport
KABUL, Afghanistan
United Nations

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