Would-Be Jetliner Bombers Sought

The search was on for would-be hijackers who sparked a security alert when they threatened to blow up a Moscow-bound jet unless they were given $100,000. But after a day of questioning of all 97 passengers on the domestic East Line airline flight from the city of Ust-Ilimsk, the culprits had still not been detected. No bomb was found on the plane. A message calling for the money to be divided into five envelopes and left in the jet’s toilet was discovered by a flight attendant, security officials said. In the note, the hijackers demanded the jet be left unattended at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport for at least three hours and that passengers be allowed to leave unchecked. Several passengers were being held for additional questioning.