COLOMBIAN AIRLINER HOSTAGES RELEASED; HIJACKERS

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008586 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN AIRLINER HOSTAGES RELEASED; HIJACKERS SURRENDER REF: BOGOTA 08571 ¶1. Summary. As of 1715 Bogota time, all hostages on board the hijacked Aires flight have been released unharmed, and the two hijackers have surrendered (reftel). Contrary to earlier reports, the father and son hijackers were not former paramilitaries. Rather, they were seeking compensation for injuries the father sustained during a raid on their home by National Police. Details on the National Police raid on the family,s home are not available at this time. End summary. ¶2. Earlier today a father and son hijacked an Aires flight en route from Florencia, in Caqueta Department, to Bogota. They were in possession of two hand grenades. Among the passengers were four U.S. Contractors, including one American, two Colombians, and one Peruvian. Two Colombian Congressmen, Luis Antonio Serrano and Reynaldo Duque, were also on the flight. The hijackers began negotiations with the GOC before landing the plane at the Catam military airport in Bogota. Once on the ground the hijackers immediately released five female passengers, two children, and two female flight attendants. After negotiations with GOC representatives and a priest, they released additional passengers, including the four U.S. contractors and the two Colombian Congressmen. As of 1715 Bogota time, the last of the hostages, the two pilots, had been released and the hijackers surrendered to authorities. Senator Gustavo Petro was reported to be the lead GOC negotiator at the time of the surrender. ¶3. The four U.S. contractors were released unharmed, and were debriefed by GOC representatives at the airport in the presence of Embassy officials. They are en route to the Embassy where they will be de-briefed by a multi-agency team. Health Services is also standing by to perform a medical examination. ¶4. Embassy officials were in close contact with the GOC as the situation developed. The Emergency Action Committee was convened twice, and representatives from RSO, DAO, LEGATT, and American Citizens Services were at the airport. Catam Base Commander Colonel Alejandro Puerta, Minister of Defense Camilo Ospina, National Police Director Jorge Castro, and Fiscal General Mario Iguaran were also present at Catam. DRUCKER