Global General

Somali woman gets sentence for plane hijacking

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-27 15:54

WELLINGTON - A Somali woman who tried to hijack a plane over the South Island was sentenced for nine years in prison on Friday.

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Asha Ali Abdille, a refugee, was sentenced at Christchurch District Court for the 2008 attempted hijacking of a 19-seater Jetstream 32 aircraft on a flight from Blenheim to Christchurch.

It is the first time anyone in New Zealand has been convicted of a plane hijack offence.

Abdille was ordered to serve a minimum non-parole period of six years.

Another seven charges - three of taking an offensive weapon onto an aircraft and four of injuring or wounding with reckless disregard - were dropped at a three-day hearing last month.

Abdille, a vineyard worker, took three knives aboard the flight, and used one to cut the pilot.

She demanded he fly to Australia, but when he said they did not have enough fuel, she suggested they fly into the sea.

When the plane landed at Christchurch, Abdille was overpowered by the pilot and first officer.