Turkish police have arrested a Ukrainian national, Artem Kozlov for attempting to hijack a plane en route from Ukraine to Turkey, with the aim of diverting it to the Russian city of Sochi, where the Winter Olympic Games are underway.
Kozlo was arrested after a night court at Istanbul’s Courthouse ordered his imprisonment, security sources have said.
Following the hijacking episode late on Friday, Istanbul Mayor, Avni Mutlu told reporters that the plane had safely landed in the city and that all 110 passengers aboard were evacuated in a well-conducted security mission.
Kozlov, 45, was apparently intoxicated when he tried to mislead the cabin crew by saying there was a bomb on the plane, attempting to enter the cockpit.
Istanbul police on Sunday denied an earlier media report claiming it was passengers who convinced Kozlov to leave the plane after its landing at Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
