RAWALPINDI, May 6: The Airport Security Force (ASF) on Thursday arrested a passenger for attempting to enter the cockpit on a flight from Dubai to Islamabad. The authorities said Majid Latif, son of Abdul Latif, was on Aero Asia flight when he attempted to enter into the cockpit of the plane that caused panic among the crew and the passengers.

However, the crew overpowered him and handed him over to the ASF after the plane landed at the Islamabad International Airport. A senior ASF official told Dawn: "The passenger, who attempted to enter into the cockpit of the plane, seems to be mentally sick. But it cannot be called an attempt of hijacking."

The authorities said Mr Latif, 24, who belongs to Hungoo district, NWFP, told the investigators that he had been in the UAE for the last three years. He further told them that he had been a drug addict and treated in a clinic from November 2003 to January 2004 in Murree.

The accused was handed over to the airport police for further interrogation. However, nothing was found from him during the search.