Britain confirmed on Thursday that 60 people from the hijacked Afghan jet and their 14 dependents are seeking political asylum in Britain.

Home Secretary (Interior Minister) Jack Straw told parliament that no promises about asylum or any other matter were given during the long negotiations for the hijackers' surrender.

"The surrender from the plane was unconditional," Straw said, adding that he would personally rule on any application for asylum made by those who were on board the plane.

He said he would like all the passengers to leave Britain.

"Subject to compliance with all legal requirements I would wish to see removed from this country all those on the plane as soon as reasonably practicable," he said.

Britain has chartered a plane from the Bangkok-based Kumpuchea Airlines to fly home those who wish to return to Afghanistan. The plane will arrive at Stansted Airport north of London by early Friday morning.

Officials said some of the hostages may fly back to other countries in the region.

Some 150 passengers were released from the hijacked Boeing 727 airliner before dawn Thursday, ending the five-day hijack drama peacefully.

The plane owned by Afghanistan's national carrier, Ariana, was hijacked on Sunday during a domestic flight from the capital Kabul to the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

It arrived at Stansted Airport early Monday morning after two stopovers in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and one in Moscow.