Two men who hijacked a Turkish passenger jet bound for Istanbul have surrendered to authorities and been escorted from the plane after releasing the remaining passengers and crew they had been holding hostage. The passenger jet was en route from Cyprus to Istanbul, CNN reported. The hijacking occurred earlier on Saturday when the Atlasjet Airlines flight from Cyprus was forced to make an emergency landing in southeastern Turkish city of Antalya after the hijackers claimed to have a bomb, according to witnesses on the plane. Most of those aboard had managed to escape soon after landing, but the two men had been holding four passengers and two crew members hostage, local government officials said. "The adventure that started early in the morning finally came to an end," said Atlasjet CEO Tuncay Doganer told reporters. "With the two hijackers having surrendered, the incident ended with no bloodshed." The other 132 passengers and four crew members escaped to safety from the plane's emergency exits as the hijackers were releasing children and women after landing. TV footage showed passengers running from the plane's side and back doors. The Turkish Ministry of Transportation said the pilots escaped through the cockpit windows. Doganer said the identity of the hijackers was known, but that police or interior ministry officials would make announce further details. The flight was traveling from Ercan airport in Turkish-recognized northern Cyprus when it was hijacked, Reuters said.
