Commandos storm plane

A hijacker claiming to be wired with explosives seized a Russian aircraft yesterday, but was overpowered by commandos after he demanded $10m (pounds 6.2m) and safe passage to Switzerland.

All 155 crew and passengers aboard the Ilyushin-62 were released unharmed after elite Alpha Squad commandos rushed the plane and grabbed the hijacker, less than an hour after the flight landed at Sheremetyevo-1 airport.

Security officials said the man, who was identified as Gennady Todikov, 59, was mentally unstable and had sent letters to the government in the past calling for the "reconstruction of the world."

- AP, Moscow