Reporter may be charged with attempted murder
THE young Chronicle reporter held in the mid-air stabbing of a pilot is likely to be charged with at least two counts of attempted murder, sources said yesterday.
The wounded pilot, Yacoob Ally Jnr was reported recovering at a private city hospital and the female reporter in custody was under police guard at another hospital in Georgetown.
The pilot was stabbed several times around the neck and shoulder and his attacker also kicked open the door of the light aircraft in the struggle that flared shortly after takeoff from the Ogle airstrip, East Coast Demerara, Monday afternoon, the Chronicle understands.
Ally, though wounded, managed to head back to Ogle and land the aircraft owned by his family airline safely at the airstrip.
Sources said the door of the type of plane (a Cessna) is easy to open as it is not a pressurised aircraft but they praised Ally's skill and presence of mind in managing to touch down safely at Ogle although badly wounded.
A 45-year-old mother who was also in the aircraft with her nine-year-old daughter, was cut in the palm of her right hand during the mid-air struggle to hold down the attacker while Ally fought to get the aircraft down safely.
The reporter who was on annual vacation, was yesterday nursing a swollen eye, and has been questioned by police who are continuing investigations.
Cops yesterday interviewed the wounded mother and the pilot.
Sources said investigators are looking at the implications of an attack on a commercial flight and the reporter is likely to be charged with attempted murder.
Ally was reportedly stabbed with a knife as he was flying with the three passengers to Spring Gardens on the Essequibo Coast.
Bleeding profusely, he was whisked away to hospital by employees of the Air Services Limited airline after landing at the airstrip while workers kept the young reporter in custody and later took her to the Sparendaam Police Station, also on the East Coast Demerara.
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