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The [[Jamaica Observer]] reports concerns in Jamaica have been raised over the privatized airport security's quality. The security was run by a consortium headed by Canadian firm Vancouver Airport Services. <ref name=JO-2009-4-20-7h00> [[Jamaica Observer]], [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/tools/breakingnews/bnm.asp?bn=966 "Montego Bay Hijacker Surrenders"], 4/20/2009 7:00:40 AM (accessed 20 April 2009 @ 9:30am EDT) </ref>
The [[Jamaica Observer]] reports concerns in Jamaica have been raised over the privatized airport security's quality. The security was run by a consortium headed by Canadian firm Vancouver Airport Services. <ref name=JO-2009-4-20-7h00> [[Jamaica Observer]], [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/tools/breakingnews/bnm.asp?bn=966 "Montego Bay Hijacker Surrenders"], 4/20/2009 7:00:40 AM (accessed 20 April 2009 @ 9:30am EDT) </ref>


Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has ordered an investigation into how an armed gunman got aboard the airliner. <ref name=PM2PCnoon> Prime Ministerial Press Conference by Bruce Golding and Stephen Harper (PM Jamaica & PM Canada) - 12:00pm noon 20 April 2009 </ref>
Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has ordered an investigation into how an armed gunman got aboard the airliner, and issued an apology to the passengers and crew of Flight 918, along with the offer of a one week vacation in Jamaica. <ref name=PM2PCnoon> Prime Ministerial Press Conference by Bruce Golding and Stephen Harper (PM Jamaica & PM Canada) - 12:00pm noon 20 April 2009 </ref>


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==

Revision as of 16:22, 20 April 2009

CanJet Flight 918
Hijacking
Date19 April 2009
SummaryHijacking
SiteSangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing 737-800 [1]
OperatorCanJet
RegistrationC-FTCZ [2]
Passengers174
Crew8
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CanJet Flight 918 was a flight which was hijacked on 19 April 2009. It was taken by a lone hijacker at Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The flight was originally scheduled to leave Sangster International Airport (MBJ) at 11:00pm on 19 April 2009, for Halifax International Airport (YHZ), due for arrival at 7:15am on 20 April 2009. [3] The airline, CanJet, is a Canadian airline.

Hijacking

At 22:30 local time on 19 April 2009 (05:30 UTC 20 April 2009),[4] Canjet Flight 918 was boarded by a lone armed hijacker, 20-year old Stephen Fray of Montego Bay.[5] He is reported as having demanded to be taken to Cuba. The passengers were released, but the hijacker held five crew hostage while negotiations continued. The negotiators included the hijacker's father and Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica.[6] The hijacker is reported to have gained access to the aircraft by using false identification papers.[7] At the time of the hijacking, there were 174 passengers and 8 crew aboard the aircraft,[8] a Boeing 737-800[1] registration C-FTCZ.[9]

Passengers report that they were able to buy their way off the plane, by each offering all of their money. [2] Passenger Brenda Grenier reported that the gunman, calling himself Rico, was convinced to let the passengers go in exchange for their money by a flight attendant. [10]

After negotiations by PM Golding and the hijacker's father break down, the police are ordered to take the plane. [11] At around 06:40 local time (13:40 UTC), the Jamaica Defence Force Counter Terrorism Operations Group members stormed the plane and took the gunman into custody. [2][10][12][13][14][15] The gunman, Stephen Fray, is reported to be "mentally challenged".[5]

Reactions

At the time of the hijacking, the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, was on a state visit to Jamaica. When informed of the hijacking, and release of some hostages, he offered the use of the governmental jet that he flew to Jamaica on, to fly the passengers back to Canada. [16]

Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a security analyst for CTV News, and former CSIS officer, expressed concern over airport security in Jamaica, given the state visit by the Canadian Prime Minister at the time of the skyjacking. He gave the opinion that security should have been on high alert due to the state visit occurring. [10]

The Jamaica Observer reports concerns in Jamaica have been raised over the privatized airport security's quality. The security was run by a consortium headed by Canadian firm Vancouver Airport Services. [17]

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has ordered an investigation into how an armed gunman got aboard the airliner, and issued an apology to the passengers and crew of Flight 918, along with the offer of a one week vacation in Jamaica. [11]

Aftermath

CanJet sent an aircraft from its Montreal headquarters to retrieve passengers from MBJ to fly them back to Canada. [18]

References

  1. ^ a b CanJet press release by Kent Woodside, Vice President and General Manager, CanJet Airlines at April 20, 2009 07:30 AM ADT
  2. ^ a b c CBC Newsworld, CBC News Morning, 20 April 2009
  3. ^ CanJet website, flight status page, accessed 20 April 2009 at 7:45am EDT
  4. ^ "Jamaica plane hijack: Passengers released but crew remain hostage". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  5. ^ a b USA Today, "Plane hijacker captured in Jamaica's Montego Bay", Associated Press, 2009 April 20, 9:00am EDT (accessed 20 April 2009 @ 10:00am EDT)
  6. ^ "Jamaican hostage-taker makes Cuba demand". CNN. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  7. ^ "Caribbean Hijack: Plane Crew Taken Hostage". Sky News. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  8. ^ "CanJet Travel Advisory". CanJet Website. Retrieved 20 April 2009 9:27am. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ "Incident: Canjet B738 at Montego Bay on Apr 19th 2009, hijacker on board". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  10. ^ a b c CTV NewsNet, Morning Show, 20 April 2009
  11. ^ a b Prime Ministerial Press Conference by Bruce Golding and Stephen Harper (PM Jamaica & PM Canada) - 12:00pm noon 20 April 2009
  12. ^ CBC News, "Hijacker in custody, Canadian crew released: Jamaican police", Monday, April 20, 2009, 8:06 AM ET (accessed 20 April 2009 @ 8:20AM ET)
  13. ^ CTV News, "Gunman on CanJet plane now in custody, reports say", Mon. Apr. 20 2009 8:13 AM ET (accessed 20 April 2009 @ 8:20AM ET)
  14. ^ The Gazette (Montreal), "Jamaican airline standoff ends; gunman captured", Mike Blanchfield (CanWest News Service), 2009 April 20 8:16 AM (accessed 20 April 2009 @ 8:20AM ET)
  15. ^ Constabulary Communication Network, "Police Statement on Hijacker Surrender", 4/20/2009 7:42:34 AM (accessed 20 April 2009 @ 9:45 AM EDT)
  16. ^ The Gazette (Montreal), "Jamaican airline standoff enters eighth hour; crew held hostage", Mike Blanchfield (CanWest News Service), 2009 April 20 7:07am (accessed 7:45am 20 April 2009)
  17. ^ Jamaica Observer, "Montego Bay Hijacker Surrenders", 4/20/2009 7:00:40 AM (accessed 20 April 2009 @ 9:30am EDT)
  18. ^ CanJet Press Conference, 9:00am EDT 20 April 2009
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