Incident Overview

Date: Monday 27 March 2000
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-75B
Owner/operator: LTU, lsf Germania
Registration Number: D-AGES
Location: Berlin-Sch”nefeld Airport (SXF) – ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 148
Component Affected: Aircraft cockpit and control systems.Aircraft cockpit and control systems.
Category: Unlawful Interference
A 38-year-old man hijacked a B737 charter flight from Tenerife to Berlin, attacking the pilot-in-command. He forced his way into the cockpit, attempting to control switches and levers, and threatened the crew and passengers. The autopilot was switched off, and communication with air traffic control was lost. The aircraft ascended to FL400 and descended back to FL365, with the first officer attempting to maintain control. The aggressor was removed from the cockpit and secured in a passenger seat, and the pilot sustained injuries. The flight ultimately ended in Berlin.A 38-year-old man hijacked a B737 charter flight from Tenerife to Berlin, attacking the pilot-in-command. He forced his way into the cockpit, attempting to control switches and levers, and threatened the crew and passengers. The autopilot was switched off, and communication with air traffic control was lost. The aircraft ascended to FL400 and descended back to FL365, with the first officer attempting to maintain control. The aggressor was removed from the cockpit and secured in a passenger seat, and the pilot sustained injuries. The flight ultimately ended in Berlin.

Description

The B737 aircraft was on a charter flight for LTU from Tenerife, when a 38-year-old man, whose motive was unknown, attacked the pilot-in-command. The perpetrator allegedly forced his way into the cockpit while the aircraft was still in Spanish airspace and began attacking the pilot. He tried to reach switches and levers in the cockpit and threatened to kill all occupants including the crew. The autopilot switched off and the contact with ATC was lost. The aircraft climbed to FL400 and descended back to FL365 while the first officer tried to maintain control of the aircraft. With the assistance of some male passengers, the aggressor was pulled out of the cockpit and strapped in a passenger seat. The pilot was injured. The flight continued to Berlin where the unruly passenger was arrested by the police.

Primary Cause

Unruly passenger behavior and potential aggression.Unruly passenger behavior and potential aggression.

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