Incident Overview
Date: Friday 18 January 1980
Aircraft Type: Boeing 720
Owner/operator: Middle East Airlines – MEA
Location: Beirut International Airport (BEY) –
ÿ Lebanon
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
On takeoff, a hijacker seized control of the aircraft, demanding the flight to Iran and agreeing to return to Beirut upon receiving additional fuel. He subsequently surrendered, allowing a press conference.On takeoff, a hijacker seized control of the aircraft, demanding the flight to Iran and agreeing to return to Beirut upon receiving additional fuel. He subsequently surrendered, allowing a press conference.
Description
Brandishing a pistol the hijacker took over the aircraft about 7 minutes after takeoff. He indicated the hijacking was an attempt to determine the fate of Musa al-Sadr, a Lebanese-Iranian philosopher and Shi’a religious leader, who disappeared while on a trip to Libya in August, 1978. He demanded the aircraft be flown to Iran but agreed to return to Beirut when told additional fuel was required at Beirut. He agreed to release the passengers and crew. He then surrendered and was allowed to hold a press conference which he had de manded as a condition of his surrender.
Primary Cause
Hijacking of an aircraft.Hijacking of an aircraft.Share on:
