Incident Overview

Date: Monday 26 August 1996
Aircraft Type: Airbus A310-304
Owner/operator: Sudan Airways
Registration Number: F-GKTD
Location: London-Stansted Airport (STN) – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 199
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
Sudan Airways Flight 150 was hijacked shortly after departure from Khartoum, involving seven Iraqis demanding to be taken to England. The plane was low on fuel and landed in Larnaca, Cyprus, for refueling. The hijackers refused to release any hostages and threatened to blow up the plane unless they were allowed to leave for England. After approximately five hours, the hijackers surrendered peacefully, carrying knives and fake explosive devices, and were arrested. The hijackers were seeking political asylum and were subsequently prosecuted in England. Sudanese authorities also detained travel agency employees.Sudan Airways Flight 150 was hijacked shortly after departure from Khartoum, involving seven Iraqis demanding to be taken to England. The plane was low on fuel and landed in Larnaca, Cyprus, for refueling. The hijackers refused to release any hostages and threatened to blow up the plane unless they were allowed to leave for England. After approximately five hours, the hijackers surrendered peacefully, carrying knives and fake explosive devices, and were arrested. The hijackers were seeking political asylum and were subsequently prosecuted in England. Sudanese authorities also detained travel agency employees.

Description

Sudan Airways Flight 150 was hijacked shortly after departure from Khartoum. Seven Iraqis, some claiming to have explosives, demanded to be taken to England. The plane was low on fuel, however, and landed shortly before midnight in Larnaca, Cyprus, for refueling. The hijackers refused to release any hostages and threatened to blow up the plane unless they were allowed to leave for England. The hijacked plane departed Larnaca at approximately 01:50 a.m. and touched down at Stansted Airport at 04:30 local time. The hijackers demanded to speak with a representative from the Iraqi Community Association, a social welfare organization which deals with Iraqi refugees. The hijackers also permitted most hostages to be released in small groups. Approximately five hours after landing at Stansted, the hijackers peacefully surrendered. They were found to carry knives and fake explosive devices. None of the passengers or crew were injured during the ordeal. The hijackers, some of whom had family members on the plane, were seeking political asylum for themselves and their families. The hijackers were arrested and will stand trial in England. In addition, Sudanese authorities arrested four employees of travel agencies for assisting the Iraqi hijackers.

Primary Cause

Hijacking of an aircraft by individuals seeking to exploit the situation for political asylum.Hijacking of an aircraft by individuals seeking to exploit the situation for political asylum.

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