A Ukrainian passenger on a flight bound for Turkey has claimed that there was a bomb on board and tried to hijack the plane to Sochi, according to reports.
The plane from Kharkiv, in the Ukraine, landed at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport, but 110 passengers are apparently still on board and authorities are trying to convince the alleged hijacker to give himself up.
NTV Television has reported that the passenger has been subdued and is in a state of severe alcohol intoxication. It also said he has been pacified, and no weapons or explosives were found on him.
Habib Soluk, Turkey's Transport Ministry Undersecretary, said that the man rose from his seat, shouted that there was a bomb on board, and tried to enter the locked cockpit.
"The man was made to believe the plane was heading to Sochi," he told reporters. "We are hoping that the passengers are evacuated without even a nose-bleed."
Several days ago, the United States government issued out warnings to airlines flying into Russia, claiming that explosives could be hidden in toothpaste tubes and smuggled on their aircraft.
