Series of Real-time Reports Concerning the Hijacking of a Afghanistan Ariana Airplane: 06 Feb 2000

Series of Real-time Reports Concerning the Hijacking of a Afghanistan Ariana Airplane:
06 Feb 2000 to 11 Feb 2000

11 Feb 2000 - From http://www.emergency.com/ennday.htm

More than Half of Hostages Demand Asylum

UNITED KINGDOM: After nearly half the freed hostages from an Afghan jet hijacking sought asylum in Britain, the government is taking a tough stance to show that seizing a plane is not the way to win refuge. After the four-day hijacking, hostages spent their first night of freedom at a four-star airport Hilton Hotel, but Britain's top law enforcement official warned the 74 asylum-seekers among them not to get too comfortable. British Home Secretary Jack Straw told legislators on Thursday Britain would try to deport them, if the law allowed...

ERRI Weekly Summary of International Terrorism

SPECIAL COVERAGE OF ARIANA AIRLINES HIJACKING

By Jeremy Zakis, ERRI Analyst

Thursday 10th February 2000 - 1400 GMT - Latest Update and Anti-Terrorism Information

LATEST NEWS

Hijacking Ends with Passengers Seeking Asylum

STANSTED AIRPORT - All hostages aboard the hijacked Ariana Airlines plane on the tarmac at Stansted Airport since Monday have been released bringing the crisis to an end. At 0315 GMT a wave of 85 hostages were released after a face-to-face meeting between terrorists and negotiators outside the aircraft.

Then shortly before 0600 GMT the remaining 65 passengers were released and elite SAS troops moved in to secure the Boeing 727. All hijackers surrendered peacefully to police. At least 19 people have been arrested by police on various charges and a number of the passengers have sought asylum in Britain.

The media was first alerted that something was about to happen when the rear door opened unexpectedly. Minute's later passengers started streaming from the jet and onto waiting buses which ferried them to a secured airport terminal building. The second wave came hours later after more negotiations. Some of those leaving the plane were frisked as a security precaution but the hijackers, nine in total, remained behind and exited the aircraft of their own accord after all the passengers were off.

Despite widespread speculation that the hijackers were seeking political asylum, Essex police reported they had made no specific demands. An official from the United Nations High Commission for Refugee's was seen at the airport and will possibly meet with the hijackers for discussion. Under international law the UK is obliged to consider any asylum claim submitted once any potential criminal proceedings are completed.

Taliban Arrests Airport Workers over Poor Security

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - In the wake of the Ariana Airlines hijacking, the Taliban have arrested at least ten airport workers in Kabul suspected of aiding terrorists to get aboard the flight. Employee's of the state-owned airline told the BBC that among the detained were four female security officers. The Taliban also believed that some women passengers were responsible for smuggling weapons aboard the aircraft.

Since the arrests, security in Kabul has been stepped up with armed men taking up positions around the airport. According to the BBC, people are being rigorously checked and those who have no business are being turned away. Generally security at the airport focuses on finding explosives rather than weapons because hijacking's were not perceived a serious threat.

Ariana Head Believed Hijacking was a Mass Asylum Bid

LONDON - Ariana Airlines head, Mullah Hamidullah told the Afghan Islamic Press on Wednesday that up to 40 on board the hijacked plane could have been involved in an asylum bid.

"It seems to us now that there is a big group, including about 40 women, men and children on board, who were travelling to Mazar-e-Sharif pretending to attend a wedding there, and they are linked with this hijacking," Hamidullah said. "It is possible that these people are interested in going to London," he added.

**DIPLOMATIC NEWS**

Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance distanced itself from Hijacking

ISLAMABAD - On the final day of the hijacking ordeal, the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance offered full cooperation for a peaceful solution to the crisis, according to Afghan Radio. Afghanistan's opposition publicly condemned the hijacking as a terrorist act and denied any kind of involvement. Early speculation said the terrorists might have been attached to the anti-Taliban government but this was soon discounted.

**PUBLIC REACTION**

Hijack Pilots Criticized for their Actions

LONDON - After yesterday's daring escape, the two pilots involved were recovering shaken but unhurt from their ordeal. But their recovery is small consolation for the fierce barrage of criticism launched upon them from aviation experts and fellow pilots, who believe they had a moral obligation to remain on board with their passengers and crew.

Chris Yates, a well-known aviation security expert told BBC News Online that the pilot is the legal authority on board an aircraft from the moment passengers embark to the moment they disembark. "He has legal responsibility for the wellbeing of his passengers. Most pilots would stay with their passengers whatever the cost," Yates said.

He also said that pilots are trained to handle hijack situations and the crew aboard the Ariana flight appeared to have gone against procedure by not following the hijacker instructions. "One of the things [pilots] are always taught is to do precisely as instructed by the hijackers. If they say land the plane, you land the plane. You don't attempt to tackle the hijackers, [or] that sort of thing," he said.

Richard Wright, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority defended the pilots actions telling the BBC that both pilots were well outside their normal operational limits, and would not have been in a fit state to fly anyway. "The requirement for the pilot is to be on board at all times when engines are running and the aircraft is in service," he said. "This is clearly not the case."

Chronological Summary of Hijacking

Sunday February 6th, 2000

0529 GMT - The Ariana flight takes off on a domestic flight from Kabul airport with 187 passengers and crew on board.

0543 GMT - Afghan Air Traffic Control loses contact with the aircraft.

0647 GMT - Plane landed in Tashkent where 10 passengers were released in exchange for fuel. Aircraft takes off again a short time later.

1240 GMT - Landed in Kazakhstan where it was refuelled again and takes off

1841 GMT - Plane landed in Moscow for unknown reasons.

2220 GMT - Departs Moscow headed for London.

Monday February 7th, 2000

0202 GMT - Flight lands at Stansted airport near London.

1225 GMT - Hijackers release five passengers and then three more in exchange for supplies.

Tuesday February 8th, 2000

Daytime GMT - Negotiations continue with food and medical supplies delivered to the aircraft, but terrorist demands remain unspecified.

Wednesday February 9th, 2000

0039 GMT - Four crew members, including the captain, escape from the jet via a cockpit window. Another escapes hours later. To date 14 hostages have left the aircraft since its arrival at Stansted.

Thursday February 10th, 2000

0215 GMT - Hijackers leave aircraft and pick up a box left by police negotiators.

0315 GMT - Aircraft's rear door opens and 65 passengers are released.

0600 GMT - Remaining 85 passengers are released and nine hostages surrender peacefully to police. SAS secure and search the aircraft finding nothing. The hijack crisis is officially over.

22:00CST - 09 Feb 2000

Hostages Released; Negotiations Continue With Terrorists

More than half the hostages on board a hijacked Afghan airliner at Stansted Airport have been released after four
days of negotiations, according to the BBC. About 85 people - including all 21 of the children on board - left the Ariana Boeing 727, which has been on the tarmac at Stansted since Monday morning, at about 0315GMT on
Thursday. EmergencyNet News will provide additional details and an update as more information becomes available...

From: ERRI Weekly Summary of International Terrorism (Team WSIT)

SPECIAL COVERAGE OF ARIANA AIRLINES HIJACKING

By Jeremy Zakis, ERRI Analyst

Wednesday 9th February 2000 - 1400 GMT - Latest Updates and Hijacking Information

**LATEST NEWS**

Five Crew Escape Hijacked Plane

STANSTED AIRPORT: The Captain and three senior crew members of the hijacked Ariana airlines jet grounded near London, made a dramatic night-time escape on Tuesday. But the daring escape caused chaos inside the cabin and added further danger to the already tentative situation. Negotiators were able to calm the agitated terrorists down after they realized the hostages had escaped.

The four men who were all located in the cockpit, opened a window dropping an emergency rope to the ground. They proceeded to descend two storey's onto the tarmac and run towards police positions. Three were unhurt but the fourth escapee received minor injuries when he fell from the cockpit window. Local media captured the dramatic event on tape with night-vision lenses. The hijackers were initially oblivious to the escape, but became enraged when they realized the cockpit crew were missing. Assistant Chief Constable Joe Edwards told a media conference that negotiators had worked successfully restoring calm to the situation.

"There was a period when it was less calm during the early hours of today, but we have now been able to return to the previous situation, " Edwards said.

Reports from the BBC also say a fifth crewman escaped several hours later when an unidentified person pushed him down the aircraft's steps. He received only minor injuries.

Authorities said up to 10 armed men and 156 passengers remain on the plane. Since landing in Stansted, 14 hostage have left the aircraft, mostly Afghan nationals. The demands of the terrorists have been made known to the negotiators, but would not be released publicly due to the sensitive nature of the situation.

**ANTI-TERRORISM ISSUES**

The Strategy of Last Resort

STANSTED AIRPORT - If the Ariana hijacking crisis situation reached a critical point and the killing of hostages took place, immediate lethal force would be provided by the elite squads of anti-terrorist troops positioned around Stansted airport. Local media has shown a number of SAS teams in tactical positions ready to storm the aircraft at a moment's notice.

According to a BBC report on Tuesday, the commando's are probably from a counter-revolutionary warfare troop known as 'the Team'. These units contain highly specialized soldiers trained to covertly approach the aircraft and launch surprise 'shoot-to-kill' attacks on terrorists in hostage situations.

Throughout the crisis, 'the Team' would have been working closely with police Intelligence who have the latest information from interviewing released hostages. Gathering important data on the position, numbers and mental state of the terrorists on board is essential for a successful operation to be carried out.

If given the order to storm, the SAS troops who are equipped with body armor, fireproof overalls, combat fatigues and helmets, will approach the aircraft from a number of blind spots under the wings and move immediately to the emergency exits. The troops will gain entrance to the cabin by blowing the doors in with explosive charges and detonating flash-bang grenades to stun the hijackers.

At this point the element of surprise will be crucial because prior warning might cause panic amongst the terrorists prompting them to open-fire. Once inside the plane, the SAS will most likely use shoot-to-kill rules of engagement on the terrorists rather than risk a gunfight trying to apprehend them.

Permission to storm the plane will come from a joint decision between British metropolitan police chiefs and intelligence officials from MI5. But because of the high-risk nature of the operation, launching a lethal assault will only occur once all other avenues of resolving the crisis have been exhausted.

**ARIANA HIJACKING OP-ED**

Ariana Hijacking Handled Better than Air India

Unlike the Air India hijacking in December, the Ariana crisis has seen no passengers or terrorists killed and communications with the aircraft are fluid. Although British authorities are remaining quiet about specifics of the demands, evidence that a good 'relationship' has been established between negotiators and terrorists has been seen during the last 48-hours.

In total 18 passengers have been released by the terrorists and what is most promising is that all reports from inside the cabin say the situation is calm and there have been no known threats to kill passengers. Previously with Air India, by this stage of the crisis a number of threats had already been made to kill passengers and the hijackers were becoming increasingly agitated, threatening to take-off and crash the plane.

Most clearly apparent is the professional co-ordination of the operation and the evidence of contingency plans in the event that something goes wrong. This is probably due to the advanced preparation by authorities who years ago designated Stansted airport as the place for hijacked aircraft to land and be dealt with effectively.

When Air India 814 landed in Khandahar, Afghanistan, authorities were unprepared for such a situation and the first few days were spent sorting out who had jurisdiction over the negotiations and security of the aircraft. The indecisiveness unnecessarily added three more day's worth of distress for the hostages.

Most disturbing about the Air India hijacking was its outcome - the escape of all the terrorists and realization of some of their demands - which broke the first rule of counter-terrorism - make no concessions.

At this stage the three-day-old Ariana hijacking is now where the Air India hijacking was on day five. British negotiators have not reported any communication problems, which plagued the Air India crisis, and continue working around the clock to negotiate a safe release of the remaining hostages. It is fair to say that at this time that the British authorities are well on track to resolving the crisis and not repeating the Air India mistakes.

**ARIANA HIJACKING GENERAL INFORMATION**

Stansted Airport Information

Stansted is London's third international gateway and is one of the fastest growing airports in Europe, growing at almost 30% per annum and is about to serve 8.2 million passengers this year.

The continuing growth of passengers and the increasing number of airlines who want to fly from Stansted are rewarding BAA's investment of more than £500 million since 1986. Having broken even in 1996/97, the airport now makes an operating profit.

Number of terminals: 1
Number of passengers : 8.2 million
Number of airlines : 24
Number of destinations : 66
Number of runways : 1
(Source: BAA - Stansted Online http://baa.co.uk/stansted/nav.html)

Aircraft Information - Boeing 727-200

Length: 153ft 2in (46.69m)
Wing Span: 108ft (32.92m)
Height: 34ft (10.36m)
Powerplant: 3x Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15 Turbofans @ 15,500lb (68.9kN)
Weight: Empty: 99,600lb (45178kg) MTOW: 190,500lb (86405kg)
Accomodation: 189 passengers (145 standard)
Performance: Max. operating speed: Mach 0.90 Service ceiling: 42,000ft
(12944m) Max. range: 2510miles (4040km)

Production of the 727 extended from the early 1960s to August 1984 with a total of 1,831 aircraft being delivered. As of December 1998, nearly 1,500 of the reliable aircraft were still in service.

The hijacked Ariana aircraft is a Boeing 727-200, which began production in December 1967. It had an increased gross weight than previous 727's and a 20-foot longer fuselage that could accommodate as many as 189 passengers in an all-tourist configuration.

In all its variations, 1,245 of the 727-200's were sold. The last version, the 727-200F, had a 58,000-pound, 11-pallet cargo capability. Fifteen of these were sold to Federal Express.

Structural improvements, a more powerful engine and greater fuel capacity led to the Advanced 727-200 in May 1971. This advanced series had improved payload/range capability, better runway performance and a completely restyled "widebody look" as standard equipment.

Later performance improvements for the 727 included another gross weight boost, from a maximum 170,000 pounds (77,122 kg) to 191,000 pounds (86,600 kg) for the Advanced version. On February 3, 1972, another increase to 208,000 pounds (94,348 kg) was announced, together with the purchase of three of the "heavyweights" by Sterling Airways of Denmark. The 727's highest gross weight was eventually raised to 210,000 pounds (95,300 kg). (Source: "The Boeing Company" Online www.boeing.com)

01:30CST (07:30GMT) - 08 Feb 2000

Negotiations Continue: Circumstances Described as Calm

Stansted Airport, England - Negotiations continue as the Ariana airlines hijacking goes into its third day. Several more hostages (eight) were reportedly traded for food, drink, and medicine during the last 24 hours. According to witnesses monitoring events at Stansted, both police and hijackers continue to maintain a calm demeanor.

But, at the same time, local newspapers are reported that the world-famed Special Air Service (SAS) commandos have been busy as well. Although actual details are not being released for security reasons, it is thought that counter-terrorist operatives have the plane under audio, video, and other kinds of technical surveillance. Additionally, normal procedures would involve various practice "boarding" exercises being carried out at a remote location, in which the commandos would prepare to breech the doors of the stricken plane and rapidly enter and terminate the terrorists. Counter-Terrorist analysts say that the 22nd SAS are among the world's best counter-terrorist forces.

Police spokespersons and negotiators have stressed, over and over again, that they remain hopeful of a peaceful end to the hijacking. And, police will wait as long as is practically possible to resolve the incident without violence. In fact, the longer the negotiations continue, the greater the likelihood that it can be successfully resolved. But, the hijackers should also be aware that should they start to kill hostages, or engage in other hostile intent, that they can expect a rapid and deadly response from "Those that Dare."

09:15CST (15:15GMT) - 07 Feb 2000

Five More Hostages Released; Negotiations Continue

Stansted Airport, England - Hundreds of police and security personnel have surrounded the hijacked Afghani 727 that sits on the tarmac at Stansted airport. Intensive negotiations are said to be continuing at the time of this report. A small measure of success was achieved, according to Essex police, when the hijackers released two men, a woman and two children earlier today.

The hostages were provided with tea/food by the authorities, and a generator was attached to the plane to provide power for air conditioning and other essential internal systems. The Ariana plane has been on the ground at Stansted since it touched down at around 02:00 GMT, after arriving from Moscow.

Negotiations are likely to be difficult, one counter-terrorist expert said, because the hijacker's ultimate demand will probably not be met by Afghani authorities. The BBC is reporting that the Taliban movement has said that while the British authorities were free to negotiate with the hijackers, the Taliban itself would not give in to any of their demands.

In a related matter, ERRI's Sr. National Security analyst C. L. Staten said this morning that this latest hijacking may only be part of a larger developing pattern and resurgence of skyjackings motivated by political or ideological objectives. Staten said that guerillas may view the successful exchange of hostages for Kashmiri militants (during the skyjacking of IndianAir 814) as a new model that can be copied in an effort to achieve the release of militants already brought to justice by governments that they oppose.

EmergencyNet News continues to monitor events surrounding the skyjacking and will provide additional reports as circumstances warrant...

23:45CST - 06 Feb 2000

Negotiations Underway; Police Say "The Plane Won't Take Off Again"

London, England - Essex police Deputy Chief Constable Charles Clark says that they have made contact with the hijackers on the hijacked Ariana 727 and that negotiations are underway. "I cannot talk about demands. Our priority is the safety of all aboard. All we're doing is containing and negotiating," he told the Reuters News service. "The position we adopt in this country is that we don't allow them to take off again."

In other developments, Taliban officials have reportedly announced that they want British officials to "storm the plane" and that they will not release opposition leader Ismail Khan, or other jailed militants, in exchange for the hostages.

Dozens of police and special security forces are on-scene and British officials say that they have closed Stansted airport as a precaution. The hijacked plane was diverted to Stansted in order not to disrupt traffic patterns at Heathrow, where hundreds of international flights land and take-off everyday.

21:00CST - 06 Feb 2000

Hijacked Plane Now on Ground In the U.K.

London, England - A skyjacked Ariana 727 with at least 140 people on board has landed at Stansted Airport in England. The plane has been isolated on a tarmac and the area is being secured by police and special security forces. Airport authorities said that they are in the process of trying to open a dialog with the hijackers, in order to carry out negotiations. Few other details are immediately available...

19:35CST (01:35GMT) - 06 Feb 2000

Plane Sighted Over Germany

A hijacked Afghani Ariana Boeing 727 was sighted on radar over German airspace an hour ago. It reportedly had earlier landed near Moscow at the Sheremetyevo-1 airport. Once there, the hijackers traded another ten hostages for more fuel and food and water and departed at approximately 02:03 Local time (23:03GMT) for parts unknown. Russian aviation officials said that the hijackers did request and receive flight maps/charts for Western Europe. It is not known at this time where their next destination might be.

Man Allegedly Being Demanded by Hijackers A Pakistani news service, the Afghan Islamic Press, again confirmed that the hijackers are demanding that the Taliban release opposition figure Ismail Khan. The BBC, however, reported at 01:29GMT that opposition forces in Afghanistan, led by commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, have denied any involvement in the hijacking, saying that a "dissident named Gula Ajha" was believed to be responsible for skyjacking. Taliban aviation official Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor, officially denied that his government has had any contact with the hijackers or that they have any idea as to their identity.

11:00CST - 06 Feb 2000

Hijacked Plane on the Move Again

Aktyubinsk, Kazakstan -- At least six, and maybe more, armed hijackers are believed to be on-board a hijacked Afghani plane that took off from a Kazakstan airport within the past hour. The flight is now believed headed for a so-far unknown destination within Russia.

Officially unconfirmed reports would suggest that the hijackers are demanding the release of a Afghani opposition figure by the name of Ismail Khan, who is believed to be imprisoned by the ruling Taliban militia. Khan was associated with the administration of Burhannudin Rabbani, who was disposed by the Taliban in 1996, and who has reported ties to Russia.

There remains some discrepancy in regard to how many people are actually on the skyjacked plane. The Associated Press (AP) says 151 people are on board and the Reuters News service is reporting that as many as 178 souls are believed to be involved in the incident.

09:00CST - 06 Feb 2000

Afghan Plane Hijacked?

A domestic Afghani Ariana Airlines flight, with 166 people on board, has been hijacked and is "hop-scotching" through S. W. Asia today. The plane was supposed to be enroute from Kabul to the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif when it was commandeered, Taliban officials said. Taliban officials deny that they have any knowledge of the identity of the skyjackers or the eventual destination of the ill-fated flight.

First, it was flown to Tashkent -- the capital of neighboring Uzbekistan -- where negotiations were conducted and ten hostages were reportedly released in an exchange for fuel. The plane then took off again.

At this hour, it is believed to be on the ground at the airport in Aktyubinsk in northern Kazakstan. Kazak air traffic control personnel said that the people in control of the plane are demanding food and additional fuel.

One U.S. analyst pointed to similarities between the recent hijacking of a IndianAir flight and events today. He said that too few facts are available to tell for sure, but that it is possible that the skyjackers are members of a radical splinter group of some sort, who are essentially engaging in a "copy-cat" action to draw attention to "their plight" -- whatever that is. Who the perpetrators are, and what their motives may be, is just not clear at this hour....

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