Zim student charged over plane hijack attempt

• Zim student in SAA plane hijack drama

• British pilot fined over ammunition in luggage

• Mugabe's decorated pilot dies

• Zimbabwe takes delivery of Chinese MA60

• Flailing Air Zimbabwe cuts flights by fifth

• Mugabe, Mujuru clash over Air Zimbabwe

• Air Zimbabwe resumes flights

• Mugabe commandeers Air Zim plane to Rome

• Air Zimbabwe flies 3 passengers

• Air Zimbabwe plane impounded at Gatwick

• Air Zimbabwe planes grounded by fuel shortage

• Mugabe commandeers Air Zimbabwe jet

• Moyo survives near plane crash

• Air Zim Boeing 737 in emergency landing, 6 hurt

• Chinese-made plane stuck in Bulawayo

• Zimbabwe acquires 2 Chinese aircraft

• Mugabe splashes in six Chinese fighter jets

• Mugabe sinks US$200 million on fighter jets

By Staff Reporter

A SLIGHTLY-BUILT Zimbabwean student, Tinashe Rioga, 21, appeared briefly in the Bellville magistrate's court on Monday in connection with an alleged attempt to hijack a South African Airways plane.

Rioga, a third-year information technology student at the University of Cape Town, was allegedly overpowered by fellow passengers on board a domestic flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.

Summarising the incident, prosecutor Zamani Gcelushe, said at approximately 12.20pm, the accused tried to hijack the aircraft using an "injection syringe".

A flight attendant was injured during the scuffle.

"He also tried to force the captain of the flight to go off-route to Maputo (in Mozambique)," said Gcelushe.

Gcelushe said the state wanted a postponement for bail information to be obtained, saying Rioga's status in South Africa was still unclear.

As such, the state needed time to confirm Rioga's Mowbray residential address, and to determine if any other warrants or cases were pending against him.

In court, Rioga said he would like the court to assist him in initially applying for legal aid.

"My family will finalise arrangements," he said.

Rioga, who allegedly wielded a syringe during the incident, faces a charge of contravening aviation regulations in that he attempted "to seize (an) aircraft in flight".

He also faces a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Magistrate David Tomisi postponed the matter to June 26 for further bail information.

Rioga was remanded in the Bellville South police cells.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria said it had not been alerted to Rioga's plight.

"Nobody has been in touch with us, so we know nothing except what is reported in the newspapers," said an official. - Sapa
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com