Ethiopian hijackers killed

The attempted hijack happened on board a Fokker-50

Ethiopian security guards have killed two men who tried to hijack an Ethiopian passenger plane.

The Ethiopian Airlines Fokker-50 aircraft was on a domestic flight from the northern town of Bahir Dar to the capital Addis Ababa when the men tried to take control, Ethiopian news agency ENA said.

Ethiopian radio quoted airport security chief Girmatsion Habte as saying the men, aged 20 and 22, attempted to hijack the flight half an hour after it had taken off.

He said one of the men headed to the pilot's cabin, while the other moved to rear of the plane, shouting they were hijacking the aicraft.

Ethiopian television said the men were carrying knives.

Gunned down

Mr Habte said the hijackers fought with cabin crew before they were shot dead by security guards.

Pictures of the men's bodies were shown on Ethiopian TV.

A passenger and a steward were reported to have been slightly hurt in the struggle.

The hijackers' motives were not known.

The plane, which was carrying 42 passengers, continued its journey before landing safely in Addis Ababa.