Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin (left) gesticulates while addressing members of the media during a Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) board of directors meeting held yesterday in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew. Looking on are Milton Samuda (centre), president of the JCC, and Francis Kennedy, second vice-president. Lewin told members of the media he would not be breathing down the necks of personnel investigating Sunday night's hijacking of a charter aeroplane at Sangster International Airport as there were various procedures to be carried out before information could be revealed to the press. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Western Bureau:

As accolades continued to pour in for the security forces, the men who carried out the mission in which 21-year-old hijacker Stephen Fray was apprehended and his hostages rescued without injury said yesterday the merit of their training in a situation which had the potential of going awfully wrong was tested.

"My first concern was that he (Fray) might try to harm the passengers and crew and the detrimental effect that would have on Jamaica," Superintendent Maurice Robinson, the commanding officer for the St James police, told The Gleaner yesterday. "We were also concerned about the young man's mental state."

Yesterday, another group gave public praise for the peaceful end to this week's hijack/hostage drama at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James.

The Jamaica Council of Churches said it was grateful to God "for the gifts of courage, level-headedness and wisdom with which He endowed all the professionals who worked tirelessly to ensure the safe release of all passengers and crew of CanJet Flight 918".

"(We are) also relieved that no injury befell the young hijacker and anticipate that while the law takes its course, he will receive any medical attention deemed necessary by the relevant professionals," the council added.

Based on the account of one member of the airline crew, who was rescued in the daring early-morning operation, it was done with such professional precision that, for her, it was "like watching a well-scripted version of Fox television's Cops" unfolding before her eyes.

After failed attempts by family members and a police negotiating team, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Ferguson and police chaplain, Reverend Courtney Walters, to get Fray to abandon his plans to be flown to Cuba, the decision was then taken to challenge the hijacker and rescue the hostages.

Personal safety secondary

Once the decision was made to storm the aircraft, personal safety became secondary to the national interest, as it became apparent that it was a mission in which failure was not an option.

"We went into the plane via the pilot's window and hid in the aircraft," said a member of the rescue team who preferred not to be identified. "A family member was then brought on-board to speak to Fray as a form of distraction."

While an agitated Fray was speaking to the family member, members of the police-military rescue team quickly moved into place, crawling on their stomachs towards the back of the aircraft where Fray and the hostages were located.

"When we got close enough, we realised that the gun he had in his possession was tucked in his waistband," said the lawman. "At a pre-arranged signal, a member of the team rushed him and we all joined in and overpowered him."

Like the aircraft crew member who praised the execution of the rescue, Robinson was also quite impressed with the professional manner in which the situation was handled.

"I felt a certain sense of awe and satisfaction to know that we have in Jamaica the persons capable of carrying out these complex manoeuvres."

Relieved there were no injuries

ACP Denver Frater, the commanding officer for Area One, is relieved that no one was injured, the suspect was arrested and the weapon recovered.

"I want to thank the team (police and military), the airport staff, private security companies and members of the community, who all assisted in the operation," said Frater.

In giving the current status of the investigations, Frater said a team, comprising members of Organised Crime Division, Major Investigation Task Force and Senior Superintendent Calvin Benjamin from CIB headquarters, has joined the local investigation headed by Superintendent Clinton Laing and Deputy Superintendent Michael Garrick. They have been interviewing several persons.

Fray will be interviewed today in the presence of his lawyer, following which it will be determined whether he will be charged.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com