Turkish flight safe after threat

Thursday, 6 January 2011

Police detain a Turkish national at Atatu

A Turkish Airlines passenger claiming to have a bomb tried to force his way into the cockpit on a flight from Norway to Istanbul, but was subdued by other passengers and the plane landed safely, Turkish media has reported.

The man was arrested after Flight 1754 from Oslo landed at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport at 9.30pm. Police said he did not have any explosives, Anatolia news agency reported.

The agency said the man began shouting threats on the flight after putting on a ski mask, and demanded that the plane return to Oslo.

However, two passengers were able to restrain him, according to Anatolia. No one was injured.

Anatolia said the man, who it identified as 40-year-old Cuma Yasar, was carrying a card identifying him as a disabled person. No further details on the man or his motive were immediately available.

The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 60 passengers, including a child, and seven crew members.