Hijack suspect was not considered 'dangerous'
The man who allegedly threatened to detonate a bomb on a Johannesburg-bound Air Botswana flight has been identified by Botswana authorities as an illegal immigrant from Cameroon, SABC radio news reported on Tuesday.
Botswana police spokesperson Commander King Tshebo said the man had been awaiting deportation at the Francistown detention centre for illegal immigrants shortly before the incident on Monday night.
At the time, he was being flown to Cameroon via South Africa.
He was not escorted by police because he was not regarded as dangerous or a threat to other passengers.
The man was now in police custody and was expected to appear in the Kempton Park magistrate's court on Thursday.
He would face charges of attempted hijacking and unlawful interference with a plane and its crew.
The man was arrested after the plane touched down at the OR Tambo International Airport shortly after 6pm on Monday.
He allegedly threatened cabin crew with two items which turned out to be "harmless".
National police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Vish Naidoo said the man banged on the cockpit door and demanded that it be opened.
"He then threatened to bomb the plane."
There were about 20 people aboard the flight.
When the plane landed and he realised it was surrounded by police, the man asked for an officer to come on board.
The officer overpowered the man and arrested him.
"Our investigation has shown there was no real threat. No bomb was found, but the passengers were highly traumatised and had to be debriefed," said Naidoo. - Sapa
