US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA8586

UNCLAS BOGOTA 008586 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER, PGOV, CO 
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN AIRLINER HOSTAGES RELEASED; HIJACKERS 
SURRENDER 
 
REF: BOGOTA 08571 
 
 1. Summary.  As of 1715 Bogota time, all hostages on board 
the hijacked Aires flight have been released unharmed, and 
the two hijackers have surrendered (reftel).  Contrary to 
earlier reports, the father and son hijackers were not former 
paramilitaries.  Rather, they were seeking compensation for 
injuries the father sustained during a raid on their home by 
National Police.  Details on the National Police raid on the 
family,s home are not available at this time.  End summary. 
 
2. Earlier today a father and son hijacked an Aires flight en 
route from Florencia, in Caqueta Department, to Bogota.  They 
were in possession of two hand grenades.  Among the 
passengers were four U.S. Contractors, including one 
American, two Colombians, and one Peruvian.  Two Colombian 
Congressmen, Luis Antonio Serrano and Reynaldo Duque, were 
also on the flight.  The hijackers began negotiations with 
the GOC before landing the plane at the Catam military 
airport in Bogota.  Once on the ground the hijackers 
immediately released five female passengers, two children, 
and two female flight attendants.  After negotiations with 
GOC representatives and a priest, they released additional 
passengers, including the four U.S. contractors and the two 
Colombian Congressmen.  As of 1715 Bogota time, the last of 
the hostages, the two pilots, had been released and the 
hijackers surrendered to authorities.  Senator Gustavo Petro 
was reported to be the lead GOC negotiator at the time of the 
surrender. 
 
3.  The four U.S. contractors were released unharmed, and 
were debriefed by GOC representatives at the airport in the 
presence of Embassy officials.  They are en route to the 
Embassy where they will be de-briefed by a multi-agency team. 
 Health Services is also standing by to perform a medical 
examination. 
 
4. Embassy officials were in close contact with the GOC as 
the situation developed.  The Emergency Action Committee was 
convened twice, and representatives from RSO, DAO, LEGATT, 
and American Citizens Services were at the airport.  Catam 
Base Commander Colonel Alejandro Puerta, Minister of Defense 
Camilo Ospina, National Police Director Jorge Castro, and 
Fiscal General Mario Iguaran were also present at Catam. 
DRUCKER