BOMB THREAT IN AIRLINER

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29263, 22 July 1960, Page 17

BOMB THREAT IN AIRLINER

Charge Against Migrant IN2. Preu Association—CopvricM) BRISBANE. July 20. A 22-year-old Ukrainian immigrant appeared in the Brisbane Police Court today on five charges arising out of an alleged attempt to blow up an Electra prop-jet airliner carrying 43 passengers and five crew while the plane was flying at 18.000 feet last night He is Alex Mildebrandt He was charged with having placed explosives on the plane with intent to destroy it, with having attempted to murder the co-pilot with having gone armed in public to cause terror, with having explosives in his possession unlawfully and with having had an unlicensed firearm. Sub-Inspector L. J. Platz, prosecuting, said Hildebrandt brandished a sawn-off .22 automatic rifle aboard a Trans-Australia Airlines Electra prop-jet near Brisbane last night and threatened to blow up the aircraft with a gelignite bomb unless the pilot flew to Darwin instead of landing at Brisbane. “Hildebrandt had only to touch a battery to a wire to explode the bomb,” Sub-Inspector Platz said. “There is no doubt the great courage and resourcefulness of the crew saved the aircraft and the lives of its 43 passengers.” Hildebrandt was remanded in custody. No plea was taken. Detective-Sergeant M. Hapgood told the Court that as a result of something they bad been told they boarded the aircraft and he there saw Hildebrandt in a seat in the front portion of the aircraft being restrained by members of the crew. He said he took possession of a sawn off 22 automatic rifle which was loaded, two sticks of gelignite to which was attached an electric detonator and two lengths of fuse wire made up in the form of a bomb and an electric battery.