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German police free Russian pilots detained in plane hijack mix-up

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German police have released two Russian pilots who were detained in Berlin's Tegel Airport on suspicion of intending to hijack a flight to Moscow, an executive for the pilots' airline said on Thursday

German police have released two Russian pilots who were detained in Berlin's Tegel Airport on suspicion of intending to hijack a flight to Moscow, an executive for the pilots' airline said on Thursday.

A woman overheard the two men, aged 49 and 26, speaking in Russian near a ticket counter in the airport at 12:40 p.m. local time [10:40 GMT] on Wednesday and believed they were discussing plans to hijack an airplane to Moscow.

The Orenburg Airlines pilots were detained for questioning after the woman reported the conversation to airport security.

"The incident was brought to an end after airline officials in Berlin confirmed the status of the pilots detained in the airport. After this, the police apologized and released the detainees," Orenburg Airlines deputy head Sergei Lazarev said, adding the pilots have returned to Russia.

More than 130 passengers had to take alternative flights as a result of the pilots' detention.

MOSCOW, May 13 (RIA Novosti)

 

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