Narrative:The B737 aircraft was on a charter flight for LTU from Tenerife, when a 38-year-old man, whose motive was unknown, attacked the pilot-in-command. The perpetrator allegedly forced his way into the cockpit while the aircraft was still in Spanish airspace and began attacking the pilot.
He tried to reach switches and levers in the cockpit and threatened to kill all occupants including the crew. The autopilot switched off and the contact with ATC was lost. The aircraft climbed to FL400 and descended back to FL365 while the first officer tried to maintain control of the aircraft. With the assistance of some male passengers, the aggressor was pulled out of the cockpit and strapped in a passenger seat. The pilot was injured. The flight continued to Berlin where the unruly passenger was arrested by the police.
Classification:
Hijack
Sources:
» Criminal Acts Against Civil Aviation 2000 / FAA, Office of Civil Aviation Security
» ICAO Adrep 2/01
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 Tenerife-Norte Los Rodeos Airport to Berlin-Schönefeld Airport as the crow flies is 3595 km (2247 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.