AMMAN. July 6: A Syrian hijacker who tried to commandeer a Royal Jordanian plane to Europe was killed by Jordanian security guards during a midflight confrontation and 15 people were wounded, officials said today, reports AFP.

Mahmoud Rizk Deeb was shot dead late Wednesday when he tried to force his way into the cockpit of a Royal Jordanian plane carrying 84 passengers to Damascus, as he brandished a hand grenade.

Initial reports spoke of three hijackers and even a fourth but a senior Jordanian official told AFP that Deeb, a convicted prisoner who served time in Syrian Jails for a misdemeanour. acted alone for personal reasons.

"An investigation carried out among three suspects, the passengers and the security guards aboard the plane showed that Syrian national Mahmoud Rizk Deeb acted alone." the official told AFP

"He had a revolver and an old hand grenade with which he tried to force his way into the cockpit but was prevented by two security guards on board the plane who shot him dead." said the official who declined to I be identified.

Deeb had boarded the Royal Jordanian Airbus A-320 at Amman's Queen Alia Airport.

Ten minutes into the Hight Deeb got up from his sent and maicried towards the cockpit,! but before he could enter a seen - • ritv guard seized him while another shot him dead.

As he fell onto the floor of , the plane the grenade rolled from his hand across the aisle, between first and economy class and exploded injuring 15 passengers.

Royal Jordanian president Nader Zahabi told AFP (hat the explosion 'opened a hole in the floor of the plane but luckily the shock was absorbed by (he cargo that lay beneath the aisle."