Russian Forces Overpower Hijack Suspect

16:53 30.07.2010
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Russian officials say special forces disguised as doctors were able to overpower a man who had seized control of a plane with 105 passengers and crew on board.

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The flight arrived on July 29 at Moscow's Domodedovo airport from Russia's North Caucasus spa town of Mineralniye Vody.

Tatyana Morozova, a representative of the investigative department of the Russian Interior Ministry, told reporters the suspect was a 39-year-old man from Kazakhstan. She said investigators found no weapons or explosives during searches of him.

"39-year-old Magomed Patiyev was born in the Republic of Kazakhstan,” Morozova said. “He is unemployed now, but he ran a business in the past. He told us he drank alcohol before the flight."

It was unclear how the suspect had gained control of the plane.

Officials said the suspect had demanded a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

After landing at Domodedovo, the plane was freed two hours later by special forces who boarded the aircraft disguised as doctors after the suspect agreed to allow some passengers medical attention.

Mineralniye Vody is in the North Caucasus, which suffers violence attributed to separatist militants.

Source: Rferl.org