Jamaican Hijacker Captured with No Casualties

After several attempts to negotiate with Stephen Fray, the 20-year old Jamaican hijacker, Jamaican special forces units were sent in and were able to capture and subdue the man without incident.. No one was injured or killed during the hostage taking and subsequent rescue operation. The man has been described by authorities as being mentally challenged and his original instructions to the crew and passengers stated that he wanted the plane flown to Cuba.

The flight held 159 passengers and 8 crew members when Fray somehow managed to avoid security and board the plane with a gun. He eventually released all of the passengers and 2 of the crew members, but not before robbing some of the passengers in the process. The plane never left the ground or attempted to taxi toward a take-off.

All of the passengers on CanJet Airlines flight 918 were Canadian and the plan was already scheduled to stop over in Vaz, Cuba before departing for Canada. The hijacker's father provided authorities with information about his son's mental condition and tried to help coax him into surrendering before the rescue mission was launched. Early speculation is that Fray may have had recent relationship issues, which coupled with his mental condition, set him off.

CanJet is putting the passengers up in a hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica while they send a second plane to fly them home.