MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – A Bolivian-born man clutching a Bible and claiming a divine mission hijacked a plane in Mexico with more than 100 people aboard yesterday, but the incident ended quickly and without bloodshed.
Jose Flores, who told police he was a Protestant minister, seized the AeroMexico Boeing 737 after take off from the Caribbean resort of Cancun demanding to speak to Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
Flores, 44, smuggled a false bomb on board and threatened to blow up the aircraft if he could not warn the president of what he said was an impending earthquake, police said.
“He said he is a minister and that it was a divine revelation that made him carry out this action,” Security Minister Genaro Garcia told reporters.
The plane landed safely in Mexico City, its original destination, and police stormed the aircraft after the passengers had been allowed off, but not the crew.
Police apparently detained Flores without a struggle and a few minutes later led him away in handcuffs, ending Mexico’s first hijack drama in years,
Transport Minister Juan Molinar told reporters that all 104 passengers and crew of 8 were safely off the aircraft. “There was no bomb,” he said.
Nine men were initially detained, but Security Minister Garcia said eight were ordinary passengers caught up in the drama. He said Flores, wearing a shirt and jeans, was the only hijacker.