Incident Overview
Description
While on the ground at Mahe Island-Seychelles International Airport 47 mercenaries boarded with automatic weapons and hand grenades and required that the aircraft be flown to Durban, South Africa. After about six hours of negotiation, the passengers and crew were released and the hijackers surrendered. The hijackers were part of a group who arrived at Seychelles airport from Swaziland. They had made an effort to forcefully take over the airport to start a coup d’tat. During the battle the Air India flight landed and was taken over by the hijackers in an effort to escape from the airport and its defenders. The leader was sentenced to 20 years for air piracy with 10 years suspended. Seven others sentenced to prison terms ranging from 1 to 5 years. 34 were sentenced to 5 years with all but 6 months suspended. One found not guilty and two others’ charges dismissed.
Primary Cause
A coup d’tat orchestrated by a group of mercenaries originating from Swaziland.A coup d’tat orchestrated by a group of mercenaries originating from Swaziland.Share on:
