CanJet Flight 918
Encyclopedia
CanJet Flight 918 was a flight that was on 19 April 2009 to have taken off from Sangster International Airport (MBJ), Montego Bay
, Jamaica
, bound for Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), Halifax, Canada
, but was instead seized before takeoff for hours by an armed, lone hijacker. This was the first incidence of a hijacking on Jamaican soil, and only the second time a Canadian airliner has been hijacked.
. Carrying 174 passengers and 8 crew, all Canadian, the plane was originally scheduled to leave MJB at 11:00pm on 19 April 2009, due for arrival at YHZ at 7:15am the following day. However, at 10:30pm, local time, Flight 918 was boarded by a lone, armed hijacker 20 year old Stephen Fray of Montego Bay, calling himself "Rico" who reportedly gained access to the plane using false identification papers and demanded to be taken to Cuba
. The passengers were soon released, with testimony from them revealing that a flight attendant had convinced Fray to allow the passengers egress in exchange for their money. The hijacker did, though, continue to hold five crew hostage while negotiations, which included Fray's father and the Prime Minister of Jamaica
, Bruce Golding
, continued.
Following the breakdown of negotiations, the police were ordered to take the airplane, and, at approximately 6:40am the Jamaica Defence Force
Counter Terrorism Operations Group members stormed Flight 918 and took the gunman into custody. Two special operations operatives entered through the cockpit window and replaced the copilot, while one of the operatives, impersonating the copilot, met with and overpowered the hijacker, who was reported to be "mentally challenged."
, Stephen Harper
, was in the midst of a visit to Jamaica, and, when informed of the event and release of some hostages, offered the use of his Canadian Crown owned aircraft to fly the passengers back to Canada.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a security analyst for CTV News
and former Canadian Security Intelligence Service
officer, expressed concern over airport security in Jamaica, given the visit by the Canadian Prime Minister at the time of the hijacking, which he opined should have placed security on high alert. The Jamaica Observer similarly reported on concerns raised in Jamaica over the privatized airport security's quality; the security was managed by a consortium, MBJ Airports Ltd., headed by the Canadian firm Vancouver Airport Services
(25% stakeholder), with Abertis
as a partner.
hub to retrieve passengers from Montego Bay and return them to Canada, Bruce Golding advised Governor-General
Sir Patrick Allen to order an investigation into how a gunman was able to board an airliner in Jamaica. The Governor-in-Council
further issued an apology to the passengers and crew of Flight 918 and offered a one week vacation at a Sandals resort
in Jamaica. Transport Minister Mike Henry also ordered a security review, which covered both MBJ and Norman Manley International Airport
in the capital, Kingston
.
The Airline Pilots Association
(ALPA) commended the crew for their efforts in thwarting the skyjacking, and on 15 June 2009, the crew of Flight 918 was invited to meet with the Governor General of Canada
, Michaëlle Jean
, at Rideau Hall
.
On 1 May 2009, Stephen Fray was officially charged with assault, robbery with aggravation, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, shooting with intent, and breaching the Civil Aviation Act in connection with the hijacking. Fray was convicted and sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison.
On May 20, 2011, an appeal of Fray's conviction and sentence was launched in Jamaica's Court of Appeal. Bray's lawyer claimed in court that when Fray committed the offence, he was "suffering from a mental illness as understood in Jamaican law, specifically the Mental Health Act," adding that spending time in jail "would not help Fray or the society at large".
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, bound for Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ), Halifax, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but was instead seized before takeoff for hours by an armed, lone hijacker. This was the first incidence of a hijacking on Jamaican soil, and only the second time a Canadian airliner has been hijacked.
Hijacking
The flight was operated on a Boeing 737-800, registration C-FTCZ. by the Canadian airline CanJetCanJet
CanJet Airlines is a low-cost chartered airline based in Enfield and in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada at the Halifax International Airport. It operates contract and ad hoc charters throughout Canada and the United States...
. Carrying 174 passengers and 8 crew, all Canadian, the plane was originally scheduled to leave MJB at 11:00pm on 19 April 2009, due for arrival at YHZ at 7:15am the following day. However, at 10:30pm, local time, Flight 918 was boarded by a lone, armed hijacker 20 year old Stephen Fray of Montego Bay, calling himself "Rico" who reportedly gained access to the plane using false identification papers and demanded to be taken to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. The passengers were soon released, with testimony from them revealing that a flight attendant had convinced Fray to allow the passengers egress in exchange for their money. The hijacker did, though, continue to hold five crew hostage while negotiations, which included Fray's father and the Prime Minister of Jamaica
Prime Minister of Jamaica
The Prime Minister of Jamaica is Jamaica's head of government, currently Andrew Holness. Andrew Holness was elected as the new leader of the governing Jamaica Labour Party and succeeded Bruce Golding to become Jamaica's ninth Prime Minister on 23 October 2011...
, Bruce Golding
Bruce Golding
Orette Bruce Golding MP served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from 11 September 2007 to 23 October 2011. He is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party.-Biography:...
, continued.
Following the breakdown of negotiations, the police were ordered to take the airplane, and, at approximately 6:40am the Jamaica Defence Force
Jamaica Defence Force
The Jamaica Defence Force is the combined military forces of Jamaica, consisting of an Army, Air Wing and Coast Guard. The JDF is based upon the British military model with organisation, training, weapons and traditions closely aligned with Commonwealth Realm countries...
Counter Terrorism Operations Group members stormed Flight 918 and took the gunman into custody. Two special operations operatives entered through the cockpit window and replaced the copilot, while one of the operatives, impersonating the copilot, met with and overpowered the hijacker, who was reported to be "mentally challenged."
Reactions
At the time of the hijacking, the Prime Minister of CanadaPrime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
, was in the midst of a visit to Jamaica, and, when informed of the event and release of some hostages, offered the use of his Canadian Crown owned aircraft to fly the passengers back to Canada.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a security analyst for CTV News
CTV News
CTV News is the news division of the CTV Television Network in Canada. The name CTV News is also applied as the title of local and regional newscasts on the network's owned-and-operated stations , which are closely tied to the national news division...
and former Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is Canada's national intelligence service. It is responsible for collecting, analyzing, reporting and disseminating intelligence on threats to Canada's national security, and conducting operations, covert and overt, within Canada and abroad.Its...
officer, expressed concern over airport security in Jamaica, given the visit by the Canadian Prime Minister at the time of the hijacking, which he opined should have placed security on high alert. The Jamaica Observer similarly reported on concerns raised in Jamaica over the privatized airport security's quality; the security was managed by a consortium, MBJ Airports Ltd., headed by the Canadian firm Vancouver Airport Services
Vancouver Airport Services
Vancouver Airport Services is an airport management company with 19 airports worldwide. It is a subsidiary of the Vancouver Airport Authority which manages Vancouver International Airport....
(25% stakeholder), with Abertis
Abertis
Abertis Infraestructuras, S.A. is a Spanish corporation. The company runs 6,713 kilometres of motorways in Europe and operates more than a dozen airports in cities including London, Stockholm and Orlando...
as a partner.
Aftermath
After CanJet sent an aircraft from its MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
hub to retrieve passengers from Montego Bay and return them to Canada, Bruce Golding advised Governor-General
Governor-General of Jamaica
The Governor-General of Jamaica represents the Jamaican monarch, and head of state, who holds the title of King or Queen of Jamaica ....
Sir Patrick Allen to order an investigation into how a gunman was able to board an airliner in Jamaica. The Governor-in-Council
Queen-in-Council
The Queen-in-Council is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council or executive council The Queen-in-Council (during...
further issued an apology to the passengers and crew of Flight 918 and offered a one week vacation at a Sandals resort
Sandals Resorts
Sandals Resorts is an operator of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and part of Sandals Resorts International , parent company of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts and The Royal Plantation Collection. Sandals Resorts has a total of 15 couples-only properties,...
in Jamaica. Transport Minister Mike Henry also ordered a security review, which covered both MBJ and Norman Manley International Airport
Norman Manley International Airport
-Cargo :The following Cargo/Courier serve Norman Manley International Airport:-Accidents and incidents:*On 17 July 1960, the captain of a Vickers Viscount of Cubana de Aviación hijacked the aircraft on a flight from José Martí International Airport, Havana to Miami International Airport, Florida...
in the capital, Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
.
The Airline Pilots Association
Air Line Pilots Association, International
The Air Line Pilots Association, International , is the collective bargaining representative for over 59,000 pilots of 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines. ALPA was formed in 1931 and is a member of the AFL-CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress...
(ALPA) commended the crew for their efforts in thwarting the skyjacking, and on 15 June 2009, the crew of Flight 918 was invited to meet with the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation, from 2005 to 2010....
, at Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall
Rideau Hall is, since 1867, the official residence in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and the Governor General of Canada. It stands in Canada's capital on a 0.36 km2 estate at 1 Sussex Drive, with the main building consisting of 170 rooms across 9,500 m2 , and 24 outbuildings around the...
.
On 1 May 2009, Stephen Fray was officially charged with assault, robbery with aggravation, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, shooting with intent, and breaching the Civil Aviation Act in connection with the hijacking. Fray was convicted and sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison.
On May 20, 2011, an appeal of Fray's conviction and sentence was launched in Jamaica's Court of Appeal. Bray's lawyer claimed in court that when Fray committed the offence, he was "suffering from a mental illness as understood in Jamaican law, specifically the Mental Health Act," adding that spending time in jail "would not help Fray or the society at large".
External links
- The Gleaner (Kingston), "Who is Stephen Fray?" (short bio of hijacker)
- Jamaica Observer, "Hijacker Stephen Fray, A Well-Mannered, Sociable Man" (short bio of hijacker)
- Jamaica Observer, "PM Orders Probe Into Airport Security Breaches"
- CTV News, "Hijacking indicative of airport vulnerability"
- Global News, "Timeline of ordeal on CanJet Flight 918"
- The Gleaner (Kingston), "The MoBay hijacking ... the journey"
- Toronto Star, "Anatomy of a foiled hijacking" (timeline of hijacking)