Robbers Hijack, Rob Plane in Southern Brazil
Aug. 17 -- Five barefaced armed robbers on Wednesday hijacked a Boeing 737 passenger plane, forced it to land an a remote airstrip in southern Brazil, and got away with at least $3.3 million in cash which it was carrying for banks.
The 66 passengers and six crew members were unharmed. Most were Italian, French and Japanese tourists returning from the spectacular Iguacu Falls on the border withArgentina, police and airline officials said.
The five men, all armed, boarded the Vasp Airline jet at Foz do Iguacu on a flight to Curitiba, both in the southern state of Parana.
Gun Held to Captain’s Head
Shortly after takeoff, they brought out their handguns. One charged into the cockpit and held a gun to the captain’s head. At least one shot was fired.
“One of the hijackers pointed a pistol at the head of the pilot and forced him to land. He also fired a shot in the cabin to scare the pilot,” said Roberto Viana des Santos, a federal police officer.
The hijackers instructed the pilot to land on the remote paved airstrip, surrounded only by miles of cattle ranches and sugar cane plantations. There three held the crew and passengers at gunpoint while the other two opened up the hold.
There were conflicting reports as to where the hijackers got themoney. Officers said some was stolen from an armored car in thesouthern city of Foz do Iguacu, where the flight originated.
Other reports, however, said the money was stolen from theplane’s cargo hold. The money was being transported for localbanks.
The money-bags were loaded onto a Ford Ranger which was waiting for them, driven by another accomplice. Then the five jumped into the vehicle and it sped away down track roads in a cloud of dust, leaving the dazed passengers and crew behind.
Searching for Answers
After the hijackers were gone, the pilot flew the plane to thenearest airport at the city of Londrina, 50 miles away. A full inquiry is being launched in Parana province into how the five managed to board the plane so heavily armed, but police were investigating airportemployees for possible involvement.
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