JFK Hostage DramaAn gunman took control of an passenger aircraft at New York's John F Kennedy airport late on Thursday, holding the pilot and co-pilot hostage for several hours.The gunman is now alone on board the aircraft after releasing the hostages. The man, armed with a 9mm handgun, broke through airport security and burst onto the Las Vegas-bound National Airlines plane just after 2200 local time on Thursday night (0200 Friday GMT). A US Marine on board the plane managed to shut the gunman in the cockpit, allowing the 143 passengers and the cabin crew to flee the plane. The gunman released the pilot shortly after midnight to convey a message to the authorities, and then released the co-pilot about 0100. Witnesses said the gunman had held a gun to the pilot's head, and ordered a member of the cabin crew to close the door of the plane. But many of the passengers fled from the plane, and the gunman did not try to stop them. |
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