Passengers help disarm Turkish hijackers

May 26, 1981

Bulgarian security forces captured four Turkish terrorists who had hijacked a jetliner and threatened to kill some 90 hostages unless their demands were met. The two-day siege ended when passengers attacked two of the leftist gunmen after security forces convinced the two others to leave the plane to make a statement to the press.

Several people were wounded when one of the gunmen still aboard the Turkish Airlines plane opened fire after hostages seized his cohort's pistol. A US Embassy spokesman said five American bankers among the hostages were not harmed. No wounded passengers were s aid to be in danger, but one hijacker was seriously injured.