Incident Overview
Date: Friday 1 December 2000
Aircraft Type: Antonov An-24
Owner/operator: Unknown
Location: –
ÿ Congo (Democratic Republic)
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Minor
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 17
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
A commercial aircraft carrying passengers and goods was hijacked shortly after takeoff from Goma, Tanzania, following a threat by two former soldiers to fly to an airport in the government-held western region of the DRC. The hijackers killed one of the men attempting to enter the cockpit, and then fired seven shots before being subdued. Fortunately, all 15 passengers were unharmed.A commercial aircraft carrying passengers and goods was hijacked shortly after takeoff from Goma, Tanzania, following a threat by two former soldiers to fly to an airport in the government-held western region of the DRC. The hijackers killed one of the men attempting to enter the cockpit, and then fired seven shots before being subdued. Fortunately, all 15 passengers were unharmed.
Description
An aircraft, ferrying passengers and commercial goods from rebel-held Goma to Kindu, was hijacked shortly after takeoff. The plane had just departed Goma when two passengers threatened to set off a hand grenade in the cabin. The two men, apparently former soldiers, demanded that the plane be flown to an airport in the government-held western part of the country. A DRC rebel aboard the plane killed one of the hijackers when he tried to enter the cockpit. The second hijacker managed to fire seven shots before being overpowered. Fortunately, the other 15 people aboard the plane were not injured. The surviving hijacker was held for questioning. Authorities in Goma blamed lax security at Goma Airport for the incident.
Primary Cause
Hijacking by former soldiers with a demand to fly to a government-held airport.Hijacking by former soldiers with a demand to fly to a government-held airport.Share on:
