Iran’s IRGC foils hijack attempt on Ahvaz-Mashhad flight

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has thwarted a plot to hijack a plane en route from the southwestern city of Ahvaz to Mashhad in northeast Iran, the IRGC says.

“The noble and heroic nation of the Islamic Iran is informed that with the grace of God, the conspiracy to hijack a Fokker 100 aircraft belonging to Iran Air … which had taken off from Ahvaz airport to the holy city of Mashhad at 22:10 hours Thursday night was neutralized with the vigilance of the IRGC’s flight security team,” it said in a statement Friday.

The flight, it said, made an emergency landing in the central city of Isfahan and the hijacker was arrested.

"According to initial statements, the perpetrator of this conspiracy intended to land the plane at the airport of one of the southern littoral states of the Persian Gulf after the hijack."

The statement said all passengers were safe and traveled to their destination on an alternative flight.

The IRGC said the "dimensions and angles of the conspiracy” are being investigated.

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