Narrative:
Six passengers hijacked a MEA flight from Beirut to Amman. They demanded the release Musa al-Sadr, a Lebanese-Iranian philosopher and Shi'a religious leader, who they assumed was captured in Libya.
After landing back at Beirut, they released the passengers. They subsequently surrendered after giving a press conference.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Tuesday 16 January 1979 |
| Type: | Boeing 720 |
| Operator: | Middle East Airlines - MEA |
| Registration: | registration unknown |
| MSN: | |
| First flight: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 9 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 73 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 82 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Location: | Beirut International Airport (BEY) ( Lebanon)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Beirut International Airport (BEY/OLBA), Lebanon |
| Amman-Marka International Airport (ADJ/OJAM), Jordan |
Six passengers hijacked a MEA flight from Beirut to Amman. They demanded the release Musa al-Sadr, a Lebanese-Iranian philosopher and Shi'a religious leader, who they assumed was captured in Libya.
After landing back at Beirut, they released the passengers. They subsequently surrendered after giving a press conference.
Classification:
HijackSources:
» AmigoePhotos
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 Beirut International Airport to Amman-Marka International Airport as the crow flies is 209 km (131 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Beirut International Airport to Amman-Marka International Airport as the crow flies is 209 km (131 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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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