Man Tries To Hijack, Divert Plane To Libya

'Clearly agitated passenger' allegedly attacks flight attendant on Rome-bound flight

ROME — A man with a knife tried to hijack an Alitalia flight from Paris to Rome Sunday night, demanding it be flown to Libya, but was quickly overpowered and arrested when the plane landed, officials and witnesses said.

"A clearly agitated passenger attacked a flight attendant, asking that the flight be diverted to Tripoli," the airline said in a statement.

"Thanks to the prompt intervention of attendants, the aggressor was immobilized and (kept) in his seat, and the flight continued on to Rome," where it landed at 9:55 p.m. (3:55 p.m. ET) as scheduled, the airline said.

Witnesses said the man put a small knife to the throat of a female flight attendant and held her for a few minutes.

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