Crew foils attempt to hijack Air Seychelles

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001662

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, DS/DSS/ITA, S/CT; NSC FOR E. MILLARD;
LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09-09-12
TAGS: PTER PGOV EAIR ASEC CASC MV IN SE
SUBJECT: Crew foils attempt to hijack Air Seychelles
flight; Alleged perpetrator in Maldivian custody

Refs: (A) Colombo-SA/INS 09-09-02 fax
- (B) Ops Center-Colombo 09-09-02 telecons
- (C) FBIS Reston Va DTG 090617Z Sep 02

(U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Charge d'Affaires.
Reasons 1.5 (b, d).


1. (C) Summary: Maldivian authorities have confirmed
that there was an attempted hijacking of an Air
Seychelles airliner on September 9. The crew subdued a
passenger armed with a knife who tried to enter the
cockpit. One member of the crew was injured in the
incident. The flight landed safely in the Maldives,
where the alleged perpetrator has been detained. The
Maldivian investigation into the incident continues.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) Maldivian authorities have confirmed that
there was an attempted hijacking of an Air Seychelles
airliner earlier today (September 9). According to
preliminary information gathered from sources in the
Maldivian government, a passenger aboard an Air
Seychelles flight (HM01017 from Mumbai to the Seychelles
via the Maldives) attempted to enter the plane's cockpit
at around 0500 hrs local time (+4 GMT) this morning, but
was subdued by crew members. The man was armed with a
knife and indicated that he wanted to divert the
aircraft. One member of the crew was slightly injured
during the incident. After the plane landed safely in
the Maldives, the alleged perpetrator was immediately
placed in the custody of the Maldivian National Security
Service. (Note: Also see Colombo DAO IIR Septel for
additional information.)


3. (U) (((Note: Ref C AFP report asserts that the
incident involved two attempted hijackers, which
contradicts the information we have received from
Maldivian contacts. The report adds that the Air
Seychelles flight had 200 passengers on board.)))


4. (SBU) Maldivian authorities have told us that they
continue to investigate the incident and will pass
whatever information they turn up to us. They report
that one AmCit was on board the flight and was unharmed.
There is no information indicating a possible political
motivation to the attempted hijacking available at this
time. The nationality of the alleged perpetrator is not
clear. He was apparently carrying an Indian passport,
but Maldivian authorities have told us that the passport
was apparently a forgery. (Note: The Indian passport,
number S790172, identified the alleged perpetrator as
Chandra Babu Sasi; DoB 20-08-1970.) Maldivian
authorities have said to us that the man looks as if he
could be an "Indian or Bangladeshi," but they are not
sure.


5. (C) Comment: As far as we are aware, this is the
first attempted hijacking involving the Maldives in any
way. At this point, there is no indication that the
incident involves an Islamic extremist aspect, but it is
still too early to say for sure. The Maldivian
government has been a solid member of the international
coalition against terrorism and we expect that it will
brief us thoroughly as it continues to investigate the
incident. End Comment.


6. (U) Minimize considered.

AMSELEM