The Iranians were to spend the night at the base before an expected return today. Lt. Gen. Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, the Israeli army chief of staff, said the hijacker would remain in Israeli custody rather than be extradited. He did not say what would happen to the passengers seeking asylum. Shahak said the steward “was sick of being in Iran, prepared a pistol, hijacked the plane and forced the crew to come here.” Israeli radio reported that the attendant had tried to quit his airline job some time ago, but his request was denied. The pilot had asked for permission to land in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, but both countries refused him.
