by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:55 AM ET, Tue January 22, 2019
Update: January 22, 2019 at 2:59 p.m. ET
The Russian man who attempted to hijack an Aeroflot flight Tuesday was arrested by police and removed by force from the plane after he attempted to enter the cockpit and told the captain to land in Afghanistan.
According to The Telegraph, the man was detained by security officers after he claimed to have a weapon, but it was revealed he was bluffing. Police said all of the other passengers and crew members were deplaned without any reported injuries.
Russia's Investigative Committee announced it would open a formal criminal investigation into the man, who now faces charges of hijacking a plane while threatening to use violence.
A Russian flight was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday after a disruptive passenger attempted to hijack the plane and demanded the captain divert to Afghanistan.
According to RT.com, Aeroflot Flight SU1515 was en route from the Russian city of Surgut to Moscow when the passenger, who was "either drunk or mentally unstable," reportedly began threatening the crew.
The captain and attendants convinced the unarmed man the plane needed to be refueled before making the trip to Afghanistan and called for an emergency landing in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk.
When the plane landed safely at the airport, it was met by local police and members of Russia's National Antiterrorism Committee. Officials said the man was still onboard the plane along with the other 69 passengers and seven crew members.
Local media outlets believe the hijacker is a 41-year-old man named Pavel who had been arrested several times in the past for drunk and disorderly behavior. Authorities have yet to confirm his identity.
If charged and convicted of hijacking the plane, he would face a prison term of up to eight years, but it could jump to a maximum penalty of 12 years if the perpetrator wer armed or used violence.
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