ISTANBUL - "One of the hijackers of the Turkish Airlines (THY) jet is a military deserter Hakan Ekinci," said Muammer Guler, Governor of Istanbul, today.
Guler arrived at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport at 2030 hours this evening and held a press briefing at the crisis desk.
According to Guler, the two hijackers showed packages in their hands to THY pilots and told the pilots that these packages were actually bombs.
"One of the hijackers Hakan Ekinci is a deserter. He ran away to Albania on May 6th, 2006," told Guler.
Asked by press corps if Ekinci is related to any terrorist organization, Guler responded that at this time there is no evidence that he is related to any terrorist organization.
Asked if there is indeed a second hijacker, Guler replied that authorities are conducting a search on whether or not there was a second hijacker.