Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 25 July 1998
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft 1900D
Owner/operator: Avior Airlines
Location: Saravena –
ÿ Colombia
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Unknown
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 22
Component Affected: Aviones de Oriente planeAviones de Oriente plane
Category: Unlawful Interference
On August 1st, four armed hijackers seized control of an Aviones de Oriente plane en route from Caracas to Barinas State. The plane was diverted to a remote airstrip at a cattle ranch, and the hijackers released passengers and crew, transporting the aircraft to Colombia where it was recovered.On August 1st, four armed hijackers seized control of an Aviones de Oriente plane en route from Caracas to Barinas State. The plane was diverted to a remote airstrip at a cattle ranch, and the hijackers released passengers and crew, transporting the aircraft to Colombia where it was recovered.
Description
Four armed, masked hijackers seized control of an Aviones de Oriente plane during a domestic flight. The hijackers were among 22 people on board the Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, which was en route from Caracas to Barinas State. The hijackers forced the plane to divert to a remote airstrip at a cattle ranch. They released the passengers and crew and took the plane to Colombia, where it was recovered in early August. It is believed that drug traffickers were responsible for this hijacking as they have a history of stealing small and medium-sized aircraft for use in smuggling operations. Two people were arrested in Arauca Department, Colombia, in connection with this hijacking.
Primary Cause
Drug trafficking activity, evidenced by a history of aircraft theft for smuggling operations.Drug trafficking activity, evidenced by a history of aircraft theft for smuggling operations.Share on:
