Incident Overview
Date: Friday 5 December 1980
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51
Owner/operator: Linea Aeropostal Venezolana – LAV
Registration Number: YV-33C
Location: Higuerote Airport (HGE) –
ÿ Venezuela
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: Aircraft control tower, telephone line, cargo area.Aircraft control tower, telephone line, cargo area.
Category: Unlawful Interference
A group of armed men hijacked a commercial aircraft, demanding to be flown to Venezuela. They took control of the tower, cut the telephone line, and stole $1.75 million in Bolivars from the cargo area. The money was recovered 24 hours later and 35 individuals were arrested. The money was being shipped to Caracas and transported by private security.A group of armed men hijacked a commercial aircraft, demanding to be flown to Venezuela. They took control of the tower, cut the telephone line, and stole $1.75 million in Bolivars from the cargo area. The money was recovered 24 hours later and 35 individuals were arrested. The money was being shipped to Caracas and transported by private security.
Description
While en route four armed men demanded to be flown to Higuerote, Venezuela where four other men took over the control tower, reportedly cut the telephone line and had a vehicle waiting. After landing the hijackers removed two ice chests containing 7.5 million Bolivars ($1.75 million) from the cargo area of the aircraft and left the airport. The money was located 24 hours later and approximately 35 persons were arrested. The money was being shipped to Caracas by an insurance company and was being transported by guards of a private security company who had boarded with other passengers at Porlamar.
Primary Cause
Hijacking of a commercial aircraft.Hijacking of a commercial aircraft.Share on:
