Aeromexico Jet Carrying 104 Hijacked, Hijackers Threaten to Blow Up Plane

Breaking News [Updated below.]: A commercial airliner carrying 104 passengers has been hijacked on the tarmac at Mexico City’s airport.

An image from TV Azteca shows helicopters hovering at Mexico City’s airport, site of a reported hijacking.

Three abductors – possibly Bolivians or Colombians – aboard the Boeing 737 Aeromexico jet have threatened to blow it up if their demand to speak to President Felipe Calderon is not met, CNN affiliate TV Azteca said.

The station added that the abductors had begun to release passengers from the jet, which had been moved to a remote area of the airport.

The incident began at 1:40 p.m. (2:40 p.m. ET), when the plane — Flight 576 — arrived from Cancun.

Calderon was in the presidential hangar in the airport preparing to depart when the incident began, leading him to cancel his planned flight, the station said.

Updates will be provided as they become available.

Update 3:48 EST: Local Mexican TV and radio report that passengers left the hijacked plane parked at Mexico City’s international airport and boarded buses. At least 100 passengers descended the plane, carrying hand luggage, and appeared calm, TV Azteca said.

Mexican security forces arrived by the truckload at the airport after the passenger plane was hijacked.

{CNN/AP/Reuters/Matzav.com Newscenter}