Narrative:
While on the ground at Mahe Island-Seychelles International Airport 47 mercenaries boarded with automatic weapons and hand grenades and required that the aircraft be flown to Durban, South Africa. After about six hours of negotiation, the passengers and crew were released and the hijackers surrendered. The hijackers were part of a group who arrived at Seychelles airport from Swaziland. They had made an effort to forcefully take over the airport to start a coup d'état. During the battle the Air India flight landed and was taken over by the hijackers in an effort to escape from the airport and its defenders.
The leader was sentenced to 20 years for air piracy with 10 years suspended. Seven others sentenced to prison terms ranging from 1 to 5 years. 34 were sentenced to 5 years with all but 6 months suspended. One found not guilty and two others' charges dismissed.
accident date: 26-11-1981
type: Boeing 707-337C
registration: VT-DVB
| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 26 November 1981 |
| Type: |  Boeing 707-337C |
| Operator: | Air-India |
| Registration: | VT-DVB |
| MSN: | 19248/549 |
| First flight: | 1967 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Location: | Durban ( South Africa)
|
| Phase: | Standing (STD) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Mahe Island-Seychelles International Airport (SEZ/FSIA), Seychelles |
| Bombay-Santacruz Airport (BOM/VABB), India | |
| Flightnumber: | AI232 |
While on the ground at Mahe Island-Seychelles International Airport 47 mercenaries boarded with automatic weapons and hand grenades and required that the aircraft be flown to Durban, South Africa. After about six hours of negotiation, the passengers and crew were released and the hijackers surrendered. The hijackers were part of a group who arrived at Seychelles airport from Swaziland. They had made an effort to forcefully take over the airport to start a coup d'état. During the battle the Air India flight landed and was taken over by the hijackers in an effort to escape from the airport and its defenders.
The leader was sentenced to 20 years for air piracy with 10 years suspended. Seven others sentenced to prison terms ranging from 1 to 5 years. 34 were sentenced to 5 years with all but 6 months suspended. One found not guilty and two others' charges dismissed.
Classification:
HijackPhotos
accident date: 26-11-1981
type: Boeing 707-337C
registration: VT-DVB
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 Mahe Island-Seychelles International Airport to Bombay-Santacruz Airport as the crow flies is 3239 km (2025 miles).
Distance from Mahe Island-Seychelles International Airport to Bombay-Santacruz Airport as the crow flies is 3239 km (2025 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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