According to the TASS news agency , the aircraft " had to alter its course as a result of forcible actions of an armed criminal on board and landed in the northeastern part of the People 's Republic of China " . In 1970 , following the hijacking of Aeroflot Flight 244 , aircraft captains in the Soviet Union were allowed to possess arms on board ; but Abramyan , despite being armed , decided not to resist as it required unbuckling his seat 's safety harness . However , he managed to contact air traffic control through a concealed button and report the hijacking
Aeroflot Flight 244
Aeroflot Flight 244
Aeroflot Flight 101/435