Attempts to hijack Bangladesh to Dubai airline, suspect shot dead

Attempts to hijack Bangladesh to Dubai airline, suspect shot dead

A Dubai-bound flight was forced to land in Bangladesh’s second-city, Chittagong, following an attempted hijacking, according to air industry officials. The Biman Airlines flight from Bangladesh to the UAE was reportedly made an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Chittagong on Sunday, agencies reported.

All 142 passengers were allowed to safely evacuate the plane, which was surrounded by commandos at Chittagong Airport, according to Reuters. The commandos fired at the suspect after he shot at them when they asked him to surrender, army Maj. Gen. Motiur Rahman told reporter. He said that the suspect was carrying a pistol, but did not say where the shooting took place.

The army official said the suspect, whose name has not been released, asked to speak to his wife and to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The suspect died before reaching the hospital, he said. The suspect appeared to be “mentally imbalanced,” said Air Vice Marshal M. Naim Hassan, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority. “I am saying this because of his behaviour. He wanted to talk to the prime minister.” Before the suspect was pronounced dead, Rahman, had described him as a “terrorist” and said that he had been arrested and was being question.