£3.5 million cost of hijack

THE hijack standoff at Stansted Airport and the subsequent criminal trial could end up costing Essex Police more than £3.5m.

Essex Police have already received £2m for the police operation surrounding the February hijack, on account from the Home Office, with consideration given to a final grant if costs exceed that level.

But Essex Police estimate the total cost of the investigation to the end of the trial could be as much £3.6m.

A police spokesman said: 'At this stage we can give no final cost because it hasn't gone to trial. That could happen later this year, but with these things you can nearly guarantee it will go to trial a year after it happened.'

Home Secretary Jack Straw is also facing mounting legal costs.

More than 30 asylum seekers who were aboard the hijacked plane are awaiting appeals against Mr Straw's refusal to grant them asylum, following a two-month hearing.

The Home Office must now bear the cost for the biggest and most expensive asylum case in British history. The bill includes appeal hearings, defence and prosecution counsel who charge hourly and daily rates, and accommodation for refugees from the plane.

Of the 170 who were hijacked, 79 have gone home voluntarily. Mr Straw had said passengers from the hijacked Afghan Airlines Boeing 727 would be sent home 'as quickly as possible'.

Meanwhile, Stansted Airport's status as a official destination for hijacked aircraft is being reviewed by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.