Saudi gunman foiled in attempt to hijack plane

GUARDS foiled an attempt by a Saudi gunman yesterday to hijack a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight heading from Sudan to Jeddah with 204 passengers and crew on board, Saudi and Sudanese officials said.

Saudi Arabian Airlines said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency that none of the passengers or crew were injured as guards disarmed and arrested the gunman. Sudan’s Interior Ministry said the hijacker was slightly injured.

The ministry said investigations were underway to determine how the man, who it said was about 35 years old, managed to board the plane armed with a pistol.