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News2014 Sochi Olympics2014-winter-olympicsArtem Hozlov

Sochi Airplane Hijacker Wore A Montreal Canadiens Jersey? (PHOTOS)

Alleged Hijacker Was Wearing What?
The Huffington Post Canada
A man (C) who attempted to hijack an airliner from Ukraine is escorted by police after the plane was forced down on Febuary 7, 2014 at Sabiha Goksen airport in Istanbul. Turkey scrambled two F-16 jets Friday to force down an airliner from Ukraine when an apparently drunk would-be hijacker ordered it to Sochi where the Winter Olympics opening ceremony was underway. The Ukrainian man, brandishing what he said was a detonator, tried to gain access to the cockpit of the aircraft operated by Turkey's Pegasus Airlines with 110 people on board, officials said. AFP PHOTO / BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
BULENT KILIC via Getty Images
A man (C) who attempted to hijack an airliner from Ukraine is escorted by police after the plane was forced down on Febuary 7, 2014 at Sabiha Goksen airport in Istanbul. Turkey scrambled two F-16 jets Friday to force down an airliner from Ukraine when an apparently drunk would-be hijacker ordered it to Sochi where the Winter Olympics opening ceremony was underway. The Ukrainian man, brandishing what he said was a detonator, tried to gain access to the cockpit of the aircraft operated by Turkey's Pegasus Airlines with 110 people on board, officials said. AFP PHOTO / BULENT KILIC (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)

Many around the world breathed a sigh of relief when Turkish authorities foiled a Ukrainian man who allegedly tried to hijack a plane and ordered it to Sochi during the Olympic opening ceremony on Friday night.

According to reports, the man may have been intoxicated and said there was a bomb aboard the plane. Authorities subdued him and found no explosives.

Photos also soon emerged of the man who was allegedly responsible. His choice in clothing, a Montreal Canadiens jersey with the number 11, raised some eyebrows in Canada.

The hijacker, identified by some outlets as Artem Hozlov, is not believed to have links to any terror organizations, but Turkish authorities said Saturday he was pushing for the release of Ukrainian anti-government protesters. It is not known if he has any links to Canada or the Montreal Canadiens.

Of course, the news did inspire a few hockey-related barbs on Twitter:

A number of notable Montreal Canadiens have won the number 11, including long-time former captain Saku Koivu who wore it from 1996-2009. The number 11 is currently being worn by Brendan Gallagher.

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