Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 5 August 1979
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
Owner/operator: Iberia
Registration Number: EC-BIT
Location: Fuerteventura, Lisbon, Geneva –
ÿ Switzerland
Phase of Flight: Standing
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: Iberia DC-9 aircraftIberia DC-9 aircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
A group of three Spanish Foreign Legion deserters hijacked an Iberia DC-9 aircraft and forced its passengers to fly to Geneva, Switzerland, demanding political asylum. They surrendered to Swiss authorities after 14 hours of negotiations.A group of three Spanish Foreign Legion deserters hijacked an Iberia DC-9 aircraft and forced its passengers to fly to Geneva, Switzerland, demanding political asylum. They surrendered to Swiss authorities after 14 hours of negotiations.
Description
Brandishing machine guns, three Spanish Foreign Legion deserters drove a stolen vehicle onto the air operations area at Fuerteventura Island Airport and forced their way aboard as passengers of an Iberia DC-9 were deplaning. They demanded escape from the Spanish Foreign Legion and to go to a country which would grant them political asylum. The aircraft flew to Lisbon, Portugal, after trying to get permission to land at other locations. Negotiations were conducted at Lisbon for 14 hours during which time all but the two flight crewmembers were released. The hijackers and the two flight crew then flew to Geneva, Switzerland, where the hijackers surrendered to Swiss authorities. Sentenced to 20 months by Geneva criminal court.
Source of Information
https://elpais.com/diario/1979/08/07/espana/302824805_850215.htmlhttps://elpais.com/diario/1979/08/07/espana/302824805_850215.htmlPrimary Cause
Desertion and demand for political asylum.Desertion and demand for political asylum.Share on:
