Narrative:El Al flight LY426 was hijacked by three men of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The aircraft, a Boeing 707-400, operated on a passenger service from London-Heathrow Airport, U.K., to Tel Aviv, Israel via Rome-Fiumicino Airport, Italy.
After takeoff one of the hijackers entered the flight deck, clubbed the copilot with the butt of his pistol and ordered the captain to fly to Algiers, Algeria. The other two hijackers threatened the passengers with pistols and hand grenades.
The following day, all non-Israeli passengers were released. Ten women and children were released over the weekend. The remaining 12 Israeli passengers, and the crew of 10 were held as hostages for the remainder of the hijacking.
The Israeli and Algerian governments negotiated the return of the hostages and plane through diplomatic channels. On August 31 everyone was released in exchange for 16 convicted Arab prisoners.
A French crew then flew the seized airplane to Rome the next day.
Classification:
Hijack
Sources:
» El Al Israel's Flying Star / by Marvin G. Goldman, pages 83 and 177.
» L'Unitá 24-7-1968
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Roma-Fiumicino Airport to Tel Aviv-Lod International Airport as the crow flies is 2263 km (1414 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.