Continuing along with a rash of recent European hijackings, France24 is reporting that a Turkish man hijacked a Pegasus Air 737 earlier today over Turkey.

ANKARA, April 10, 2007 (AFP) - A man hijacked a Turkish airliner carrying 180 passengers and crew on Tuesday but gave himself up to authorities after it landed in Ankara, television channels reported.
 
"The hijacker, of Turkish nationality, has given himself up to police and been taken into custody," transport ministry spokesman Ibrahim Sahin told journalists at Ankara.
 
The hijacker's name was Mehmet Gokcingol and he was aged about 40, he added. "All the passengers and crew are safe and sound."
 
The passengers would be continuing their journey on another plane, said Sahin.
 
One passenger told CNN-Turk television that the hijacker had said he had a bomb attached to his belt and that at one point he had read verses from the Koran. 

CNN offers this version of events:

One passenger, Firat Keles, told CNN Turk that the suspect tried to approach the cockpit, and told the flight crew he had something in his belt and wanted to fly to Iran. Keles said the man, who was in his 30s, did not look suspicious and did not appear to be threatening anyone.

It is odd how a man could hijack a plane and at the same time, not appear to be threatening anyone. Perhaps passenger Firat Keles fears CAIR will go international and he will become the next "John Doe" target of CAIR.  

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