Jordanian air marshals foiled an attempted hijacking today by overpowering a Lebanese passenger as a Royal Jordanian plane prepared to land in Bangkok, officials said.

Information Minister Nabil Sharif told Petra news agency that Jordanian security agents seized Seif Jamal Seif before Flight 184 bound from Amman to Kuala Lumpur was due to land in Bangkok.

Carrying explosives

As the plane prepared to touch down, Seif claimed he was carrying explosives and wanted to hijack the plane, Sharif said, but a search of the aircraft and his luggage failed to yield any weapons.

Seif arrived Friday night in Amman from Beirut aboard a Middle East Airlines flight and boarded the Royal Jordanian plane for Kuala Lumpur early today, he added.

He was due to be flown back to Amman tomorrow for questioning, Sharif said. - AFP