Stories
5 Horrifying Incidents of Flights to Israel: Guns Pointed, Yet Pilots Refused to Give Up.
- •Indian pilot Smit Machhar saved a FlyDubai plane heading to Israel from being hijacked after his co-pilot attacked him.
- •On July 23, 1968, an El Al Boeing 707 from Rome to Tel Aviv was hijacked by PFLP and diverted to Algeria.
- •On February 18, 1969, an El Al flight at Zurich Airport was attacked with machine guns, resulting in the death of co-pilot Yoram Peres.
- •On September 6, 1970, Captain Uri Bar-Lev deliberately put the plane into a steep dive to disorient hijackers, averting disaster.
- •On May 8, 1972, a Sabena Boeing 707 was hijacked by Black September and forced to land at Israel's Lod Airport, leading to a commando operation.
Key Questions Answered
On September 6, 1970, when attackers moved toward the cockpit, Captain Uri Bar-Lev put the plane into a steep dive. This sudden descent caused the hijackers to lose their balance and fall, allowing security guards and passengers to apprehend them.
On February 18, 1969, four PFLP attackers fired machine guns at an El Al flight ready for takeoff in Zurich, fatally injuring co-pilot Yoram Peres. On-board Israeli security agent Mordechai Rachamim fired back at the attackers, and the resulting prosecution later revealed the deployment of sky marshals.
Four Black September attackers forced a Sabena flight to land at Lod Airport on May 8, 1972, demanding the release of prisoners. Israeli commandos led by Ehud Barak, which included Benjamin Netanyahu, disguised themselves as technicians, stormed the plane, killed two attackers, and captured the rest.
