Plane flying from Cyprus to Istanbul, Turkey hijacked
{{date|August 18, 2007}}

A [[w:Bombardier CRJ-900|Bombardier CRJ-900]] operated by [[w:Atlasjet|Atlastjet Airlines]] and traveling from [[w:Nicosia|Lefkosa (Nicosia)]], [[w:Cyprus|Cyprus]] to [[w:Istanbul|Istanbul]], has been hijacked by two men claiming to be [[w:al-Qaeda|al-Qaeda]] terrorists with bombs. 

According to reports, the plane landed at an airport in [[w:Antalya|Antalya, Turkey]]. At least 136 passengers and six crew members were on the plane, but most reportedly escaped. The hijackers were releasing women from the front of the plane, when most of the passengers and crew escaped through the back. Two crewmembers and four passengers remain on the plane, Tuncay Doganer, president of Atlasjet, said.  Doganer said that the hijackers spoke Arabic among themselves, and the ''AP'' is reporting that the they are university students from Iran.  

The hijackers requested the plane land in [[w:Tehran, Iran|Tehran, Iran]] or [[w:Syria|Syria]]. Pilots landed the plane for refueling, but reports say that the pilots were among those who have been released or escaped.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-08/18/content_6557729.htm
|title=Most of passengers manage to flee from hijacked plane in Turkey
|author=
|pub=Xinhua
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22267185-1702,00.html
|title=Passengers escape hijacked plane
|author=
|pub=NEWS.com.au
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5065140.html
|title=Report: Turkish passenger plane hijacked
|author=Associated Press
|pub=Houston Chronicle
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6952594.stm
|title=Hijack attempt on Turkish plane
|author=
|pub=BBC
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-08/18/content_6557248.htm
|title=Passenger aircraft en route from Cyprus to Turkey hijacked 
|author=
|pub=Xinhua
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6952594.stm
|title=Passengers flee from hijack plane 
|author=
|pub=BBC
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.live-pr.com/en/turkish-airplane-hijacked-on-way-from-r25083.htm
|title=Turkish airplane hijacked on way from Northern Cyprus to Istanbul
|author=
|pub=livePR
|date=August 18, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/18/ap4032839.html
|title=Turkish Plane Hijacked, Most Freed
|author=Associated Press
|pub=Forbes
|date=August 18, 2007}}

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[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Turkey]]
[[Category:Aircraft hijackings]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Tehran]]
[[Category:Nicosia]]

[[es:Secuestan un avión que iba de Chipre a Turquía; secuestradores se rinden]]
[[it:Turchia: dirottato aereo, i sequestratori si sono arresi]]
A Bombardier CRJ-900 operated by Atlastjet Airlines and traveling from Lefkosa (Nicosia), Cyprus to Istanbul, has been hijacked by two men claiming to be al-Qaeda terrorists with bombs. 

According to reports, the plane landed at an airport in Antalya, Turkey. At least 136 passengers and six crew members were on the plane, but most reportedly escaped. The hijackers were releasing women from the front of the plane, when most of the passengers and crew escaped through the back. Two crewmembers and four passengers remain on the plane, Tuncay Doganer, president of Atlasjet, said.  Doganer said that the hijackers spoke Arabic among themselves, and the AP is reporting that the they are university students from Iran.  

The hijackers requested the plane land in Tehran, Iran or Syria. Pilots landed the plane for refueling, but reports say that the pilots were among those who have been released or escaped.

es:Secuestan un avión que iba de Chipre a Turquía; secuestradores se rinden
it:Turchia: dirottato aereo, i sequestratori si sono arresi
Crime and law Middle East Turkey Aircraft hijackings Europe Asia Tehran Nicosia