Male: The Malidivian authorities are still holding two of the 10 Indians detained in connection with the September 9 aborted hijack attempt of an Air Seychelles plane from Mumbai.

The 41-year-old Chennai based engineer Shashi Raj, who was overpowered by the crew when he was allegedly brandishing a knife to direct the plane to another destination, and another person were being held in Male as investigations were underway, diplomatic sources said.

Initially 10 passengers were detained but the eight of them were released after questioning. While six of them went to Seychelles, two returned to Mumbai, they said.

The hijack attempt was made when the plane, on a scheduled flight to Seychelles with a stopover at Male, was 150 km short of the Maldivian capital in the wee hours of September 9. A flight engineer was slightly injured when the cabin crew tried to overpower Shashi Raj.

PTI