RIYADH, October 15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Security agents aboard a Saudi Arabian Airlines plane flying from Khartoum to the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah thwarted a hijacking attempt by a pistol-toting Saudi national on Tuesday, October 15.

“Twenty-two minutes after the plane left Khartoum Airport, a man armed with a pistol stood up and announced he had hijacked the plane,” the airline said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

“The captain immediately diverted the plane towards Khartoum while special forces aboard the plane immediately arrested and disarmed the hijacker with the help of the crew,” Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted the statement as adding.

On the plane’s landing in Khartoum, the hijacker was handed over to Sudanese authorities, who opened an investigation.

The 185 passengers on board were safe and sound and were to resume their journey at a later date, the airline said, adding that the crew numbered 19.

A Saudi spokesman in Jeddah told AFP the plane was an Airbus and that none of the passengers, crew or security men was hurt in the incident.

The plane landed at Khartoum Airport at 11:25 a.m. (0925 GMT), about one hour after the hijacking attempt, the spokesman said.