PASSENGER ARRESTED AFTER HE LIES TO FLIGHT ABOUT GUN

SANA'A, Oct. 24 (Saba) - The Al-Saeeda Airways Company said Saturday
it arrested a passenger onboard one of its jetliners after he
claimed he had a gun.

As the flight was about to take off, the passenger said he had a gun
in his suitcase, forcing the security and crew of the airliner to
take preventive measures to protect the passengers.

The security and crew coordinated the arrest of the passenger with
the authorities at the Sana'a Airport.

No gun was found with the passenger after he was arrested, the
information official of the company confirmed.

The flight No. 146 from Sana'a to Aden and then to Mukalla in
southern Yemen continued its journey safely, he said.

Earlier reports cited official sources as saying the security of the
Al-Saeeda Airways Company foiled an attempt to hijack one of the
company's airliners.

One of the passengers aimed his gun at the pilot of the jetliner as
it was about to take off from Sana'a to Aden, the sources said.

The security arrested the gunman and he was handed to the Sana'a
Airport authorities, they added.

An investigation was said to be launched.

Hijacking planes is uncommon in Yemen, where, according to some
statistics, the number of the guns in civilian hands outnumbers the
country's population.

FR