Attempt to highjack Iranian flight to Damascus

Iranian authorities announced that an individual who tried to highjack an Islamic Republic airliner en route to Damascus from Tehran has been arrested and has ties to “anti-Revolutionary elements.”

Mehr news agency reports that flight 517 which had left Tehran last night for the destination of Damscaus was threatened by one of the passengers just before reaching its destinations.

The passenger had claimed to have a bomb on board and demanded that the airplane land at a different airport.

Homa Airline spokesman reported earlier that airline security took the situation in hand and upon negotiation with the passenger and the pilot realized that the contentions of the passengers were false and there was no bomb involved.

The spokesman maintained that the passenger who was carrying no arms appeared to suffer from “mental complications.” He added that the assailant had been arrested upon arrival in Damascus.

The Revolutionary Guards however issued a statement later saying that the passenger who had threatened the 517 flight was an “anti-Revolutionary” intending to highjack the plane.

According to the report he was arrested and the flight has returned toward Tehran.