Colombia Hijacker in Wheelchair Sentenced

Colombia Hijacker in Wheelchair Sentenced

A man in a wheelchair who hijacked a Colombian airliner using hand grenades was sentenced Friday to eight years of house arrest.

Porfirio Ramirez faced up to 40 years in prison for commandeering an Aires airliner with 24 passengers aboard, but Bogota Penal Court Judge Jairo Acosta said he reduced the sentence because "his action was aimed simply at pressuring (authorities) to meet his demands" and he surrendered peacefully.

Ramirez hijacked the plane because the government turned down his bid to receive compensation for the injuries he suffered from police gunfire during a raid 14 years ago that left him in a wheelchair.

The plane landed at a Bogota airport and several hours later Ramirez — who was accompanied by his 17-year-old son — allowed all passengers and crew to leave the plane unharmed and then turned himself in.

Ramirez was convicted of aggravated hijacking of an aircraft.

Authorities released the younger Ramirez because they said he was not aware of his father's plan.

The drama on Sept. 12 riveted Colombians as it unfolded on their radios and television sets. They listened to one hostage, while still on the plane, describe the scene in a furtive cell phone conversation with local RCN radio.

By Lionheart on Nov 13, 2005, 09:48 in Politics & the war.