Bolivian pastor gets 7 years in prison for plane hijack

MEXICO CITY: A Mexican court sentenced a Bolivian pastor to more than seven years in jail for the 2009 hijacking of a passenger plane traveling from Cancun to Mexico City, authorities said Thursday.

Jose Marc Flores Pereira, an evangelical preacher and singer, had claimed to be on a divine mission and used three juice cans to convince crew members he had a bomb on the Aeromexico flight on September 9, 2009.

A Mexican judge sentenced him to seven years, seven months and 15 days and fined him almost USD $1,000, said a statement from the federal Attorney General's Office.

He was convicted of attacking a means of transport and illegally retaining people.

Flores Pereira had demanded to fly over the airport seven times and to speak with President Felipe Calderon to warn him of a future earthquake.

Federal police stormed the plane after a standoff at the international airport before the pastor surrendered to authorities.

All crew and more than 100 passengers -- most of whom had no idea they had been taken hostage -- were safely evacuated. (AFP)