Captives turn tables

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 9

Captives turn tables

NZPA-Reuier Vienna The passengers and crew of a Turkish airliner hijacked to Bulgaria at the week-end were safely back in Turkey yesterday after overpowering their captors in a way worthy of anti-terrorist troops. All but two of the 120 on board flew back yesterday to Istanbul, their original departure point on Sunday for a flight to Ankara. They were hijacked -by four Leftist extremists, including a uniformed Turkish

Army conscript, and diverted to the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Burgas. Two injured Japanese remained in Burgas for treatment.

The hijackers threatened to kill five American bankers aboard and then blow up the plane unless the Ankara Government released 47 prisoners in Turkey and paid $500,000.

The hijack ended without serious injury yesterday when the Bulgarian police lured two hijackers from the

plane, apparently promising them a press conference, and the passengers and crew overpowered the other two in a slick move. The United States Embassy in Sofia and Turkish radio said the other two hijackers were disarmed by ■passengers and crew after the Turkish pilot suddenly started the plane moving, throwing the gunmen off balance. One of the American bankers held hostage, Mr Jose Clark, of Citibank, said: “The

’ Turkish passengers worked 1 out a plan to disarm the j hijackers and carried it out i to perfection.” The hijackers were identified as members of the Turk--1 ish underground “Dev-Sol” J (Revolutionary Left) group, ' one of the most militant ’ Left-Wing organisations active in Turkey before the : military coup in September last year. The Ankara Government was reported to be seeking their extradition.