Narrative:
During a period of civil unrest in East Timor, in a period when it was becoming independent from colonisation by Portugal, the RAAF Caribou was tasked to evacuate some nuns from Baucau.
While on the ground at Baucau Airport, armed men demanded that over 40 people be evacuated from the island to Australia. The demands were met and the aircraft flew to Darwin, where the hijackers were arrested and later granted asylum.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 4 September 1975 |
| Type: |  de Havilland Canada DHC-4A Caribou |
| Operator: | Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF |
| Registration: | A4-140 |
| MSN: | 140 |
| First flight: | 1964 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 54 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Location: | Baucau Airport (BCH) ( East Timor)
|
| Phase: | Standing (STD) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Baucau-English Madeira Airport (BCH/WPEC), East Timor |
| Darwin Airport, NT (DRW/YPDN), Australia |
During a period of civil unrest in East Timor, in a period when it was becoming independent from colonisation by Portugal, the RAAF Caribou was tasked to evacuate some nuns from Baucau.
While on the ground at Baucau Airport, armed men demanded that over 40 people be evacuated from the island to Australia. The demands were met and the aircraft flew to Darwin, where the hijackers were arrested and later granted asylum.
Classification:
Sources:
» theguardian.comPhotos
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 Baucau-English Madeira Airport to Darwin Airport, NT as the crow flies is 653 km (408 miles).
Distance from Baucau-English Madeira Airport to Darwin Airport, NT as the crow flies is 653 km (408 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.
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