Turkish Airline involved in attempted hijacking

A Turkish Airlines Airbus A-320 aircraft was involved in an attempted hijacking while en route from Antalya Airport (LTAI/AYT) in Turkey to St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport (ULLI/LED) in Russia on 15 October 2008. At approximately 1000 UTC, while the aircraft was flying over Belarus, an assailant reportedly gave the flight attendant a note that claimed he was carrying a bomb and demanded to be taken to the cockpit, but passengers overpowered him when he began walking toward the cockpit door. The man, who was intoxicated at the time and allegedly unarmed, also reportedly demanded that the aircraft divert to his chosen destination. The aircraft was carrying 167 passengers, most of whom were Russian nationals. The assailant's nationality has not been confirmed; however, at least one report indicated that he was of Uzbek ethnicity. The aircraft later landed without incident in Russia.