Cablegate: Colombian Airliner Hostages Released; Hijackers

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008586

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PTER PGOV CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN AIRLINER HOSTAGES RELEASED; HIJACKERS
SURRENDER

REF: BOGOTA 08571

1. Summary. As of 1715 Bogota time, all hostages on board
the hijacked Aires flight have been released unharmed, and
the two hijackers have surrendered (reftel). Contrary to
earlier reports, the father and son hijackers were not former
paramilitaries. Rather, they were seeking compensation for
injuries the father sustained during a raid on their home by
National Police. Details on the National Police raid on the
family,s home are not available at this time. End summary.

2. Earlier today a father and son hijacked an Aires flight en
route from Florencia, in Caqueta Department, to Bogota. They
were in possession of two hand grenades. Among the
passengers were four U.S. Contractors, including one
American, two Colombians, and one Peruvian. Two Colombian
Congressmen, Luis Antonio Serrano and Reynaldo Duque, were
also on the flight. The hijackers began negotiations with
the GOC before landing the plane at the Catam military
airport in Bogota. Once on the ground the hijackers
immediately released five female passengers, two children,
and two female flight attendants. After negotiations with
GOC representatives and a priest, they released additional
passengers, including the four U.S. contractors and the two
Colombian Congressmen. As of 1715 Bogota time, the last of
the hostages, the two pilots, had been released and the
hijackers surrendered to authorities. Senator Gustavo Petro
was reported to be the lead GOC negotiator at the time of the
surrender.

3. The four U.S. contractors were released unharmed, and
were debriefed by GOC representatives at the airport in the
presence of Embassy officials. They are en route to the
Embassy where they will be de-briefed by a multi-agency team.
Health Services is also standing by to perform a medical
examination.

4. Embassy officials were in close contact with the GOC as
the situation developed. The Emergency Action Committee was
convened twice, and representatives from RSO, DAO, LEGATT,
and American Citizens Services were at the airport. Catam
Base Commander Colonel Alejandro Puerta, Minister of Defense
Camilo Ospina, National Police Director Jorge Castro, and
Fiscal General Mario Iguaran were also present at Catam.
DRUCKER

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