Foiled hijack attempt: pilots fight for control

Three stabbed on flight, police arrest refugee

PRESS REPORTERS - The Press | Saturday, 09 February 2008

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Two pilots wrestled a knife-wielding woman to the floor after a terrifying mid-air ordeal in which she allegedly stabbed three people and tried to take control of the plane yesterday.

Asha Ali Abdille, 33, of Blenheim, who arrived in New Zealand as a Somali refugee, has been charged with hijacking a plane, wounding and two counts of injuring. The charge of hijacking carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Abdille will appear in the Christchurch District Court this morning.

The drama unfolded 10 minutes into the Air New Zealand/Eagle Air flight 2279 from Blenheim to Christchurch early yesterday.

Abdille, sitting in seat 1A directly behind the forward bulkhead, is alleged to have confronted the pilots.

One pilot suffered a cut to his hand, but details of how that happened have yet to be confirmed.

Canterbury police district commander Superintendent Dave Cliff said a mayday call was made at 7.40am from the 19-seater Jetstream 32, signalling a hijack and that a woman had attacked both pilots with a knife.

Abdille demanded the pilots take the flight to Australia, refusing a request from the pilots to return to Blenheim, Cliff said.

"There were also threats made to the safety of the passengers and claims made there were bombs on board the flight," he said.

The pilot tried to calm Abdille while she stood directly behind them during the flight holding a knife.

Two of the six other passengers on the flight also tried to calm Abdille; one of them -- a woman -- received a cut on the hand.

Abdille remained armed during the entire flight and continued to make threats, Cliff said.

When the plane came into land at Christchurch International Airport, the woman allegedly started moving the aircraft controls, he said.

"As part of the descent process, the pilots made a turn and the suspect lost balance and was no longer able to interfere with the controls," he said.

"She became silent but continued to have the knife in her possession. The aircraft landing was somewhat rough because of weather conditions."

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