Nation : Texas Hijacking Attempt Foiled
A man claiming that he had a bomb tried to hijack a jetliner to Cuba but was overpowered by a police officer who sneaked up an escape chute after the plane made an emergency landing, authorities said today.
No one was seriously hurt late Tuesday during the America West flight that was supposed to fly non-stop from Houston to Las Vegas.
The Boeing 737 carrying 39 people landed in Austin shortly before midnight, after the pilot told the would-be hijacker that the plane needed to refuel, authorities said.
Passenger Robert Martin said the man had been sitting two rows in front of him, complaining loudly about American TV programs.
Authorities identified the man as Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Gonzalez, a 39-year-old Cuban native who lives in New Orleans. FBI Agent Byron Sage said he expected the man to be charged with air piracy and kidnaping.
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