Rahul Sharma (Editor)

El Al Flight 426 hijacking

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Crew
  
10

Aircraft type
  
Boeing 707

Number of deaths
  
0

Destination
  
Ben Gurion Airport

Passenger count
  
51

Fatalities
  
0

Date
  
23 July 1968

Summary
  
Aircraft hijacking

Operator
  
El Al


Passengers
  
51 (Including 3 hijackers)

Survivors
  
61 (Including 3 hijackers)

Flight origin
  
London Heathrow Airport

Similar
  
El Al Flight 253 attack, TWA Flight 840 hijacking, Korean Air Lines Flight 015, Dawson's Field hijackings, Korean Air Flight 803

El Al Flight 426 was an El Al passenger flight hijacked on July 23, 1968 by three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), setting off a wave of hijackings by the PFLP.

History

The aircraft, a Boeing 707, was en route from London Heathrow Airport to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport and then to Lod Airport, now known as Ben Gurion International Airport. The plane was diverted to Algiers.

One of the hijackers opened the unlocked door to the flight deck, clubbed the copilot with the butt of his pistol and ordered the plane to fly to Algiers. The other two hijackers threatened the passengers with pistols and hand grenades.

When the plane landed at Dar El Beida, Algerian authorities impounded the plane. The following day they sent all non-Israeli passengers to France on Air Algérie Caravelle jets. Twelve Israeli passengers and the crew of ten were held as hostages. Ten women and children were released over the weekend. The hijackers were identified as members of the Jordan-based Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. They were equipped with Iranian and Indian passports. Each of the hijackers were carefully chosen by the PFLP because of their occupations (a pilot, a Colonel in the Palestinian army and a Karate teacher).

The Israeli and Algerian governments negotiated the return of the hostages and plane through diplomatic channels. Five weeks later, everyone was released in exchange for 16 convicted Arab prisoners. According to the BBC, lasting 40 days, it was the longest hijacking of a commercial flight.

References

El Al Flight 426 hijacking Wikipedia