KINGSTON, (Reuters) – The Jamaican man who tried to  hijack a Canadian charter aircraft in Montego Bay last month  has been charged with robbery, assault and other offences,  police said yesterday.

Stephen Fray, 21, is accused of holding passengers and crew  captive aboard a CanJet flight at Donald Sangster International  Airport in the resort city on April 19.

Police said Fray had been charged with assault, robbery  with aggravation, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal  possession of ammunition, shooting with intent and breaching  the civil aviation act.

The most serious charge, illegal possession of a firearm,  can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Police accused Fray of using a .38-calibre revolver to  seize the Boeing 737-800 jet and take more than 180 passengers  and crew hostage on April 19. Authorities said he initially  demanded to be flown to Cuba.

A shot was fired as the drama unfolded but no one was hurt.  Police described Fray at the time as a “troubled young man.”
More than 170 passengers were freed early in the drama but  the would-be hijacker kept the crew on board for eight hours  before armed police and soldiers stormed the jet.