Incident Overview

Description
Three hijackers armed with handguns and claiming to have explosives ordered the crew to fly to India. The hijackers also demanded (U.S.) $20 million for development in their native Baluchistan Province. Rather than fly to India, however, the crew took the plane to the airport in Hyderabad, Pakistan, located 90 miles from Karachi. The hijackers were led to believe that they had landed at a remote airstrip in Bhoj, India. Upon landing, the plane was immediately surrounded by security forces and vehicles were parked in front to prevent it from leaving. More than five hours later the hijackers reportedly told the negotiators that Baluchistan needed development funds rather than nuclear tests by the Pakistani government in response to five Indian nuclear tests two weeks before. The hijackers agreed to release the women and children aboard the aircraft. As the passengers were deplaning, Pakistani commandos overpowered the hijackers. A hijacker and an army officer were slightly injured in the ensuing scuffle. The three hijackers were sentenced to death and executed in May 2015.
Primary Cause
Hijacking and extortionHijacking and extortionShare on: