Lockheed L-188A Electra – HK-1274

Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 30 May 1973

Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-188A Electra

Owner/operator: SAM Colombia

Registration Number: HK-1274

Location: Buenos Aires/Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, BA (EZE) – ÿ Argentina

Phase of Flight: En route

Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 93

Component Affected: The Lockheed L-188A Electra passenger plane.The Lockheed L-188A Electra passenger plane.

Category: Unlawful Interference

On May 30, 1973, a Lockheed L-188A Electra passenger plane, operated by SAM Colombia, was hijacked during a service from Cali to Bogot . The hijackers demanded ransom and the release of 140 leftist prisoners, diverting the aircraft to Pereira, Medell¡n, and then Aruba. Negotiations resulted in 31 passengers being released, with the flight ultimately returning to Aruba at 22:30. Following repairs, the aircraft resumed its route to Lima, Peru, and then to Central America, ultimately returning to Aruba at 22:30. The hijackers received $50,000 from SAM Colombia, and the aircraft ultimately landed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, at 10:46. The flight then returned to Lima, Peru, landing at 10:46, and subsequently released 14 more passengers. The hijacking concluded in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 2, with the aircraft landing at Mendoza, Argentina, at 18:08. The hijackers successfully escaped from Resistencia or Asunci¢n, leaving the Electra stranded at those locations.On May 30, 1973, a Lockheed L-188A Electra passenger plane, operated by SAM Colombia, was hijacked during a service from Cali to Bogot . The hijackers demanded ransom and the release of 140 leftist prisoners, diverting the aircraft to Pereira, Medell¡n, and then Aruba. Negotiations resulted in 31 passengers being released, with the flight ultimately returning to Aruba at 22:30. Following repairs, the aircraft resumed its route to Lima, Peru, and then to Central America, ultimately returning to Aruba at 22:30. The hijackers received $50,000 from SAM Colombia, and the aircraft ultimately landed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, at 10:46. The flight then returned to Lima, Peru, landing at 10:46, and subsequently released 14 more passengers. The hijacking concluded in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 2, with the aircraft landing at Mendoza, Argentina, at 18:08. The hijackers successfully escaped from Resistencia or Asunci¢n, leaving the Electra stranded at those locations.

Description

A Lockheed L-188A Electra passenger plane, operated by SAM Colombia, was hijacked by two men. The hijackers demanded money and the release of 140 leftist prisoners in Colombia. On May 30. 1973 the airplane was operating a service from Cali to Bogot , with an en route stop at Pereira. The hijacking occurred at 14:35, some twenty minutes takeoff from Pereira. The airplane then diverted to Medell¡n (EOH) were it was refuelled before continuing to Aruba (AUA) were it arrived at 17:01. During negotiations 31 passengers were released. In the early morning of May 31, at 04:00, the flight took off, bound for Lima (LIM), Peru. Technical problems forced the crew to return to Aruba and the airplane was back on the ground at 06:00. After repairs were completed the Electra took off again 15:55, bound for Central America. After deciding not to land at San Salvador, the hijackers demanded to be flown back to Aruba. The flight was back at Aruba at 22:30. That night, the hijackers received 50,000 Dollars from the airline SAM. The next morning, at 03:15 on June 1, the Electra took off from Aruba and landed at Guayaquil (GYE), Ecuador at 07:46. After refuelling the airplane departed 45 minutes later, landing at Lima, Peru at 10:46. At Lima another 14 passengers were released. At 12:30 the aircraft took off again, landing at Mendoza (MDZ), Argentina at 18:08. At Mendoza the remaining passengers were released. After stops at Resistencia (RES) and Asunci¢n (ASU), Paraguay the hijacking ended at Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 2. It appeared that the hijackers had escaped at Resistencia or Asunci¢n.

Primary Cause

The hijacking was likely orchestrated by individuals seeking to exploit the situation for financial gain and to potentially influence the political situation in Colombia, potentially involving the release of leftist prisoners.The hijacking was likely orchestrated by individuals seeking to exploit the situation for financial gain and to potentially influence the political situation in Colombia, potentially involving the release of leftist prisoners.

Share on: