Investigation Summary
The hijacking began approximately 30 minutes after the Boeing 737-200 departed Khartoum. The perpetrator, Mohamed Abdu Altif, gained access to the cockpit armed with a handgun, though initial reports incorrectly suggested he carried an AK-47. He demanded the flight proceed to the United Kingdom, but the flight crew successfully convinced him that the aircraft lacked the necessary fuel for such a journey. A diversion to N'Djamena International Airport in Chad was agreed upon. Remarkably, the passengers remained largely unaware of the situation as the hijacker made no announcements or threats toward the cabin. Upon entering Chadian airspace, the aircraft was intercepted and escorted by French Mirage F-1 fighter jets stationed in the region. After landing, the aircraft was surrounded by Chadian military forces. Following a 20-minute negotiation period, Altif allowed the passengers and crew to disembark before surrendering to authorities. He later stated his actions were intended to draw international attention to the 'extermination' of the population in Darfur by the Sudanese government.
Final Conclusions
The incident was concluded as a politically motivated hijacking. The perpetrator was arrested by Chadian authorities, who stated their intent to prosecute him for terrorism. The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority launched an investigation into the security breach at Khartoum International Airport that allowed a firearm to be smuggled onto the aircraft. The aircraft and its occupants returned to Khartoum later that same evening.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Cockpit Security
The hijacker was able to gain entry to the flight deck approximately 30 minutes into the flight.
Airport Security Screening
Sudanese authorities investigated how a handgun was successfully smuggled through security at Khartoum International Airport.
Interesting Facts
- 01The hijacker was a 26-year-old Sudanese national from Al-Fashir in North Darfur.
- 02There were 95 passengers and 8 crew members on board, totaling 103 people.
- 03The passenger list included one British citizen and one Italian military attaché.
- 04The hijacker claimed he was not a member of a rebel group but wanted to seek asylum in the UK.
- 05A Chadian official identified the hijacker as being 'close to' the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebel group.
- 06No injuries or fatalities occurred during the event.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Security Investigation
Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority formed a committee to investigate the failure of ground security protocols at Khartoum International Airport.
Location
APPROXIMATE AREA ONLY · Coordinates are the reference point of the airport named in the location, not the point of impact. No map is shown, because a marker here would imply a precision the record does not have.
Reported location: N'Djamena, Chad