Eagle Airways Flight 2279
 British Aerospace Jetstream 32EP ZK-ECN |
|
| Hijacking summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 February 2008, 7:40am |
| Type | Hijacking |
| Site | Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand |
| Passengers | 7 (including hijacker) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Injuries | 3 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Survivors | 9 (all) |
| Aircraft type | British Aerospace Jetstream |
| Operator | Eagle Airways / Air National |
| Tail number | ZK-ECN |
| Flight origin | Woodbourne Airport, Blenheim, New Zealand |
| Destination | Christchurch International Airport, Christchurch, New Zealand |
Eagle Airways Flight 2279 was a commuter flight operated by Air National on behalf of Eagle Airways, a regional carrier division of Air New Zealand.[1] It was hijacked on 8 February 2008 and was the second aircraft hijacking incident in New Zealand, and the first involving a commercial passenger flight.
Contents |
[edit] Incident
Ten minutes after takeoff, at about 7:40 a.m.,[2] the alleged hijacker attacked both of the pilots and demanded the plane be flown to Australia. One pilot was cut in the arm, the other in the leg. She also tried to wrestle the controls from the pilot. There were six other passengers (four New Zealanders, one Australian and one Indian) on board. One female passenger was also injured. The copilot managed to restrain her eventually. Police alleged the hijacker also mentioned having two bombs on board, but no explosives were found.[3] The plane landed safely at Christchurch International Airport at 8:06 a.m.[2]
[edit] Alleged hijacker
Asha Ali Abdille, a 33-year-old living in Blenheim, New Zealand, originally a refugee from Somalia, was arrested after the plane landed.[4]
There were fears among the New Zealand Somali community that they would be branded terrorists. The government quickly stated "the government will not tolerate any racial or religious intolerance".[4]
Abdille moved to New Zealand in 1994.[5] TVNZ did an interview with her in 1996, where she said she is not coping with New Zealand society, and would like to go back to Somalia.[6]
On 1 March 2005, the then-Immigration Minister Paul Swain was questioned in Parliament regarding unrelated incidents whether he was confident that Abdille "is not a threat to the New Zealand community". The minister answered in the affirmative.[7]
[edit] Trial
Abdille was charged with one count of attempted hijacking, one count of wounding one of the pilot with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and two counts of injuring with intent. She was remanded for a psychiatric report.[8]
On 22 February 2008, Abdille was charged in the Christchurch District Court with a further 11 charges, including threatening to kill, possessing an offensive weapon, and taking a dangerous weapon onto an aircraft. Her trial began in April 2010.[9]
On 14 July 2010, Abdille pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to hijack an aircraft.[10]
On 27 August 2010 Abdille was sentenced to 9 years in jail.[11]
[edit] Impact
Christchurch International Airport was evacuated after the incident. Among those caught up were Transport Minister Annette King, Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven and the England Cricket Team.[12] This incident prompted a review of aviation security in New Zealand, released on 23 April 2009 it found domestic flights of fewer than 90 seats with unscreened passengers and carry-on baggage were a high-risk area.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ "Second pilot released from hospital after hijack attempt". Radio New Zealand. 2008-02-10. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200802101238/second_pilot_released_from_hospital_after_hijack_attempt. Retrieved 2008-02-10.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Captain thankful of co-pilot's skills during mid-air drama". Fairfax New Zealand. 2008-02-09. Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. http://www.webcitation.org/5VUpRQWqT. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ "NZ hijacker 'known to police'". ABC News. 2008-02-08. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/08/2158366.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
- ^ a b "Minister reassures Somali community". Scoop. 2008-02-08. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00099.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
- ^ "Update: African woman held in NZ hijack". Bangkok Post. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=125806. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
- ^ "Close Up on 8 February". Television New Zealand. 2008-02-08. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/tvone_minisite_story_skin/1575314%3fformat=html. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
- ^ Hansard 2005-03-01
- ^ Hartevelt, John (2008-02-09). "Hijack accused to get psychiatric evaluation". Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2008-02-09. http://www.webcitation.org/5VTTJ5FWi. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
- ^ , http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=113484&fm=newsmain,nrhl, retrieved 2010-06-28
- ^ Martin van Beynen (14 July 2010). "Blenheim woman admits hijacking". The Press. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3917213/Blenheim-woman-admits-hijacking. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Plane hijacker jailed for nine years". Television New Zealand. 27 August 2010. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/plane-hijacker-jailed-nine-years-3743133. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
- ^ "Pilots stabbed in New Zealand plane hijack attempt". Channel 4. 2008-02-08. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/pilots+stabbed+in+new+zealand+plane+hijack+attempt/1514657. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
- ^ "Domestic flight prices may rise as security beefed up". New Zealand Herald. 23 April 2009. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10568231. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikinews has related news: Woman attacks aircraft pilots in New Zealand hijacking attempt |
- Airliners.net photos of the aircraft ZK-ECN
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10491291&pnum=0
- http://stuff.co.nz/4392665a10.html
- http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1316907/1574444
- Hand treatment grounds hero pilot
