Janet Silvera
Senior Gleaner Writer

A gunman is at this hour holding people hostage aboard a Canadian-bound flight.

It has been confirmed that approximately 11 p. m. a gunman boarded the chartered flight on the tarmac at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James and held the crew and 140 passengers hostage.

The man is said to have used the staff entrance and breached security systems, by using several fake identification cards in the airport pouch hung around his neck.

He reportedly boarded the Canjet plane, which was preparing to take off.

The flight was returning to Canada, and was intended to make a stop in Cuba.

The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre has received word that at least one shot was fired on board the aircraft. It's not clear if any one was injured.

The gunman is said to have proceeded to rob passengers who were kept hostage for approximately half an hour before they were eventually released.

Staff informants at the airport said the gunman appeared to be Latino, and was wearing a pair of short pants and black long sleeve shirt.

A large contingent of police and army personnel has cordoned off the airport, from as far the Montego Bay round-a-bout, about half mile away, in an effort to secure the facility.

However, efforts are being made to protect the visitors to the island who were at the facility.

Airport workers remained in shock as they assessed what appears to be a serious breach of security.