Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 4 July 1993
Aircraft Type: Fokker F-28 Fellowship 3000
Owner/operator: Royal Swazi National Airways
Registration Number: 3D-ALN
Location: Johannesburg-Jan Smuts Airport (JNB) – ÿ South Africa
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: Fokker F-28 aircraftFokker F-28 aircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
A Fokker F-28 aircraft from Royal Swazi National Airways, en route from Mozambique to Eswatini, was hijacked by a Mozambican individual armed with a AK-47 assault rifle. The hijacker demanded a flight to Australia, then redirected to Johannesburg, South Africa, and eventually to Mauritius. The pilot informed the hijacker that Australia was beyond the aircraft’s range, leading to a change of course to Johannesburg. During the flight, the hijacker fired three shots, striking the pilot and copilot with the butt of his rifle. After landing in Johannesburg, the hijacker released two crew members, and a firefight ensued, resulting in injuries to the pilot, copilot, and a passenger. Authorities apprehended the hijacker, who was suspected of involvement in the murders of two policemen.A Fokker F-28 aircraft from Royal Swazi National Airways, en route from Mozambique to Eswatini, was hijacked by a Mozambican individual armed with a AK-47 assault rifle. The hijacker demanded a flight to Australia, then redirected to Johannesburg, South Africa, and eventually to Mauritius. The pilot informed the hijacker that Australia was beyond the aircraft’s range, leading to a change of course to Johannesburg. During the flight, the hijacker fired three shots, striking the pilot and copilot with the butt of his rifle. After landing in Johannesburg, the hijacker released two crew members, and a firefight ensued, resulting in injuries to the pilot, copilot, and a passenger. Authorities apprehended the hijacker, who was suspected of involvement in the murders of two policemen.

Description

A Royal Swazi National Airways Corporation Fokker F-28 aircraft, en route from Maputo (MPM), Mozambique, to Manzini (MTS), Eswatini, carrying two passengers and four crew members, was hijacked by a Mozambican who was armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and who demanded to be taken to Australia. When the pilot informed the hijacker that Australia was beyond the aircraft’s flying range, the hijacker demanded to fly to Lesotho but later redirected the flight to Johannesburg, South Africa, where the aircraft was to be refueled and flown to Mauritius. While the aircraft was in flight, the hijacker, who was intoxicated, fired three shots and struck the pilot and copilot with the butt of his rifle. When the aircraft landed at Jan Smuts International Airport in Johannesburg, the hijacker released two crew members. After two hours of negotiating with the hijacker, security forces stormed the aircraft and in the exchange of gunfire the hijacker, pilot, and a passenger were wounded. The hijacker, wanted by authorities for the murders of two policemen, reportedly smuggled his rifle aboard the aircraft in a large shoulder bag.

Primary Cause

Hijacking and armed robberyHijacking and armed robbery

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