A man thought to be a Vietnamese-American was captured after he hijacked a Vietnam Airlines plane over Ho Chi Minh City to distribute leaflets, then parachuted out, officials and a passenger were quoted Saturday as saying.
They said the man - believed to be a U.S. citizen - brandished a knife and demanded the A-310 Airbus fly low as it approached Ho Chi Minh City Friday afternoon after leaving Bangkok."It flew so low it almost stalled," said a resident of the city, quoting Vietnamese officials and an Australian passenger with whom he had spoken.
The private Bulgarian air company, Jess, which leased the Airbus to Vietnam Airlines, confirmed in Sofia that the hijacking had taken place.
The residents said the hijacker grabbed a woman flight attendant on the plane, wrapped piano wire around her neck and forced her to the cockpit. He made the crew open a cockpit window, then threw leaflets out.
"He said he wanted to liberate Vietnam," said another resident.