Unlikely hijacker
The week's news at a glance.
Bogotá, Colombia
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe ordered a review of airport security this week, after a wheelchair-bound man and his son smuggled grenades onto a plane and hijacked it. Porfirio Ramírez, 42, surrendered after five hours, saying he only wanted compensation for a police raid on his house that left him paralyzed 14 years ago. His wheelchair was too wide to pass through a metal detector, and security agents let him board a commuter flight without a thorough search. Negotiators gave him a $43,000 check as part of a deal to end the standoff, but the senator who brokered the surrender said the government would not honor it.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Will Trump’s $12 billion bailout solve the farm crisis?Today’s Big Question Agriculture sector says it wants trade, not aid
-
‘City leaders must recognize its residents as part of its lifeblood’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
10 upcoming albums to stream during the winter chillThe Week Recommends As the calendar turns to 2026, check out some new music from your favorite artists