SOUTH AFRICA: A man claiming to be a member of al Qaida has been arrested for attempting to hijack a plane.

He's being charged with trying to hijack the Air Botswana aircraft on a flight to Johannesburg, and unlawful interference with a plane and its crew.

The man was overpowered and taken in for questioning shortly after the plane landed about 4.15 yesterday afternoon at the OR Tambo International Airport.

Police said the man, who claimed to be part of al Qaida, was not armed, and there was no real threat to passenger safety.