Authorities Believe Incident Not Linked To Terrorism

Apparently its not just in America where airline passengers are willing to act to control their fate. An Aeroflot A320 with 168 people aboard made an emergency landing today in Prague after passengers subdued a man demanding the flight crew change course with a bomb threat.

The aircraft was enroute from Moscow to Geneva when the pilot declared an emergency and requested permission to put down in Czech Republic's capitol.

There are conflicting media reports about the incident, but Reuters spoke with deputy general director of the Russian airline Aeroflot Lev Koshlyakov who said, "One of the passengers on board the Moscow-Geneva flight said he had an explosive device and ordered (the crew) to change course."

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency quoted Aeroflot representative Viktor Parkhimovich as saying "a drunk person was on board" who "provoked a brawl with passengers, threatened to damage the plane and demanded it change course."

Koshlyakov said there is reason to believe the incident was "an act of hooliganism."

Prague police spokesman Pavel Hantak said passengers subdued the man and no one was injured.

Hantak told Reuters, "The suspect, a male of Russian nationality, is in the hands of the Czech police." The man's identity has not been released.

Upon landing at Prague around 10:30 local the aircraft was directed to an outer area where the passengers deplaned to a waiting bus. They were taken to the terminal.

Aeroflot says the aircraft was searched and crews are preparing it to continue to Geneva.

FMI: www.aeroflot.com