Plane hijacked in Mexico; passengers freed

September 10, 2009 01:21 am | Updated 02:15 am IST - MEXICO CITY

In this image rendered from video and taken from Noticieros Television, authorities are seen trying to evacuate passengers from a hijacked plane on Wednesday in Mexico City.

In this image rendered from video and taken from Noticieros Television, authorities are seen trying to evacuate passengers from a hijacked plane on Wednesday in Mexico City.

An airplane was briefly hijacked as it landed in Mexico City on Wednesday from the resort of Cancun, but all passengers and crew were released unharmed, officials said.

Television images showed police leading at least five men from the plane in handcuffs. Mexican news media reported the hijackers were Bolivian citizens demanding to speak with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Juan Molinar said all passengers and crew were safe, but would not say how many alleged hijackers were detained or give details of their motivation.

“Various people who participated in the act have been detained and we are investigating,” he said.

He said there was no bomb on the airplane, although some passengers said one of the hijackers held a package that resembled an explosive device.

Passenger Rocio Garcia told the Televisa network that the crew made an announcement that the airplane was being hijacked once they landed in Mexico City.

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