Man admits hijack attempt

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 10

Man admits hijack attempt

NZPA-AFPDar es Salaam An unidentified white man, believed to be South African, has pleaded guilty to attempting to hijack a Soviet airliner reportedly carrying 174 African National Congress (A.N.C.) members, court sources said yesterday. Journalists were barred from the hearing into the attempted hijack on May 18 of an Aeroflot flight between Luanda and Dar es Salaam with 200 passengers aboard. State radio in Harare reported on May 19 that two South African agents had been arrested in the Tanzanian capital after rying to divert the Soviet plane to Johannesburg. The A.N.C. president, Oliver Tambo, told jour-

nalists in Nairobi last week that members of the anti-apartheid group were on board the plane but said he could not confirm how many. In January the A.N.C. said it would withdraw an estimated 1400 guerrillas from Angolan bases as part of a regional peace plan, signed by Angola, Cuba and South Africa. No new destination was disclosed but experts said Tanzania and Ethiopia were the most likely places.

The accused man, who reportedly appeared in court with one arm bandaged, was believed to have been injured when he was overpowered by Soviet security officers aboard the plane.