China Convicts Soviet Hijacker

A Soviet co-pilot who commandeered an Aeroflot domestic airliner to China in December was convicted today on hijacking charges by a court in the northeast city of Harbin, officials said.

Under Chinese law, hijacking is a “counterrevolutionary” crime carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. But court observers said the co-pilot, Alimuradov Shamil Gadji Ogly, will likely receive a prison sentence of less than 10 years. Soviet officials have said they will seek Ogly’s return.