Investigation Summary
The hijacking occurred against the backdrop of the 1987 Fijian coups d'etat. Amjad Ali, an ethnic Indian who worked for Air Terminal Services (ATS) as a refueller and customer services supervisor, utilized his ground staff credentials to board the Boeing 747 unnoticed while it was being refueled. He carried eight sticks of dynamite explosives (often referred to as melanite) strapped to his body, which he threatened to detonate unless his political demands were met. While Ali was initially focused on the cockpit, the cabin crew managed to evacuate all 105 passengers and 21 crew members, leaving only the Captain, First Officer, and Flight Engineer as hostages. The standoff lasted approximately six hours, during which Ali communicated with negotiators and family members via the radio. The situation was resolved when Flight Engineer Graeme Walsh, returning from a bathroom break, used a bottle of duty-free whiskey to strike Ali on the head, allowing the three crew members to pin him down until police arrived.
Final Conclusions
The incident was resolved through the direct intervention of the flight crew. Amjad Ali was taken into custody and subsequently received a suspended sentence for the charge of taking explosives onto an aircraft. The aircraft was not damaged and no lives were lost.
Video Analysis
The Hijacking of Air New Zealand Flight 24 — A detailed look at the 1987 hijacking in Fiji, the political motivations behind it, and the unusual way the crew regained control of the aircraft.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Cockpit Security
At the time of the incident, cockpit doors were not reinforced to the standards implemented post-2001, allowing the hijacker to enter the flight deck easily.
Melanite Explosives
The hijacker carried eight sticks of this industrial explosive, which required manual ignition via a fuse.
Interesting Facts
- 01The hijacker used eight sticks of melanite explosive, a material similar to dynamite.
- 02The New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) was placed on standby during the crisis.
- 03The hijacker, Amjad Ali, later served in the Fiji House of Representatives starting in 1999.
- 04Despite the hijacking, Ali was granted permanent residency in New Zealand in 2009.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airport Security Review
The incident highlighted vulnerabilities in ground staff access to international aircraft, leading to reviews of security protocols at Nadi International Airport.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
New Zealand Residency of Amjad Ali
Reference ↗Public and media controversy arose in 2014 when it was revealed that Ali, a former hijacker, had been granted permanent residency in New Zealand in 2009.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the reference point of the airport named in the location, not the point of impact. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.