MEXICO: Wife of Mexico hijacker says he wanted to warn society about dangers of drugs

Record ID: 303935

  • Title: MEXICO: Wife of Mexico hijacker says he wanted to warn society about dangers of drugs
  • Date: 11th September 2009
  • Summary: SAN BARTOLO COYOTEPEC, OAXACA, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 9, 2009) (REUTERS) ****CONTAINS SOME FLASH PHHOTTOGRAPHY**** VARIOUS OF STREET WHERE ELSA MELGAR DE FLORES, WIFE OF ACCUSED HIJACKER JOSE FLORES, LIVES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ELSA MELGAR DE FLORES, WIFE OF ACCUSED HIJACKER JOSE FLORES, SAYING: "He never, ever told me anything about hijacking a plane. Obviously, I also think it's a crazy idea. Time alone will tell if God really sent him. Time will tell. His purpose-- the only purpose he had -- was to get the media to listen to him and question why it is allowed to promote alcohol, cigarettes and internet hotlines? Why there are so many get-rich schemes and programmes which talk about total rubbish? They don't allow people to get through to alcoholics, drug addicts and criminals, to be able to talk to them so that they are able to turn and look for God." VARIOUS OF MELGAR'S HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ELSA MELGAR DE FLORES, WIFE OF ACCUSED HIJACKER JOSE FLORES, SAYING: "Well, he told me his purpose was to be able to talk to the president to warn him that Mexico must turn to God because a tremendous earthquake is coming and I think he will tell the media about the rest at the proper time." STREET SCENE WITH MELGAR'S FRIENDS
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Reuters ID: LVA4ZU2AHEX1EQWRIZDZCED8NPNL
  • Story Text: The wife of the Bolivian protestant minister who hijacked an Aeromexico flight said on Wednesday (September 9), she was unaware her husband intended to hijack a plane but said he wanted society to turn away from addictions and look for God instead.
    Jose Flores, born in Bolivia who claimed to be on a divine mission, hijacked an AeroMexico Boeing 737 plane after take off from Cancun in Mexico on Wednesday with more than 100 people aboard on but the incident ended quickly and without bloodshed.
    "He never, ever told me anything about hijacking a plane. Obviously, I also think it's a crazy idea. Time alone will tell if God really sent him. Time will tell. His purpose-- the only purpose he had -- was to get the media to listen to him and question why it is allowed to promote alcohol, cigarettes and internet hotlines? Why there are so many get-rich schemes and programmes which talk about total rubbish? They don't allow people to get through to alcoholics, drug addicts and criminals, to be able to talk to them so that they are able to turn and look for God," Elsa Melgar de Flores, who has lived in San Bartolo Coyotepec in the state of Oaxaca, 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the capital city of Oaxaca for the past three years, told Reuters.
    Melgar de Flores said her forty-four-year-old husband wanted to speak to Mexican President Felipe Calderon to warn him about an impending earthquake. Flores threatened to blow up the aircraft with a smuggled false bomb on board if he could not talk to him.
    "Well, he told me his purpose was to be able to talk to the president to warn him that Mexico must turn to God because a tremendous earthquake is coming and I think he will tell the media about the rest at the proper time," she said adding her husband had been a drug and alcohol addict in his youth and had some mental disorders.
    The plane landed safely in Mexico City, its original destination, and police stormed the aircraft after the passengers had been allowed off, but not the crew.
    Police apparently detained Flores without a struggle and a few minutes later led him away in handcuffs, ending Mexico's first hijack drama in years.
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