Series of EmergencyNet News Reports Concerning the Hijacking of a Tu-154 Aircraft From Dagestan to Moscow, Russia and Then Flown to Uvda, Israel  - 11/12/Nov 2000

Excerpted from: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT-Sunday, November 12, 2000-Vol. 6, No. 318

RUSSIA/ISRAEL

Russian Air Hijacking Ends In Israel

A military official said that a Chechen gunman who seized a Russian airliner surrendered to Israeli authorities on Sunday and all 58 people on board were safe. The lone hijacker was in Israeli custody and all the passengers had been removed from the plane. The Vnukovo Airlines plane landed at a military air base in Uvda, in Israel's southern desert, early Sunday morning after being commandeered during a flight from southern Russia to Moscow. 

The plane refueled in Baku, Azerbaijan, before reaching Israel. Israel, Russia and Azerbaijan had said initially that up to four hijackers were on board and were threatening to blow up the plane. But there was only one hijacker, and he surrendered. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the hijacker carried what appeared to be an "explosive device" around his waist, but that it later turned out to be "a fake."

The hijacking began moving toward a peaceful resolution at about 0900 hours local time, three hours after the plane landed in Israel. At that time, the plane's captain came down a stairway and handed over weapons to Israeli security forces. At the same time, the hijacker also came down the stairs, and was met by a vehicle that took him to the terminal building.

Israeli officials initially said the hijacker acted in support of the Palestinian uprising. But later it was said that information was incorrect, and that the hijacking was part of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Chechnya. Another Israeli official, Maj. Gen. Yom-Tov Samia, later said that the hijacker may have been suffering from a "mental problem," and that his exact motive remained unclear.

Israel initially refused the plane permission to land, and was intent on preventing the plane from landing at Ben-Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv, the country's main airport. While the plane circled over the Mediterranean Sea, an Israeli Air Force jet flew nearby. Eventually, the plane was allowed to land after the Russian pilot said he was running low on fuel.

The gunman seized the plane on Saturday night shortly after takeoff from Makhachkala, the capital of the southern Russian region of Dagestan in the Caucasus Mountains. It was headed for Moscow, but was diverted to Baku, Azerbaijan, where it refueled before heading toward Israel. Most of those on the plane were believed to be from Dagestan.

While the plane was in Baku, officials negotiated with the hijacker and agreed to refuel the plane. During the negotiations, Azerbaijani troops and police ringed the dark airport, which had been closed for the night.

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Instant 02:30CST - 12 Nov 2000

Hijacker Surrenders; Crisis Appears to be Over...

At least one hijacker has reportedly surrendered to Israeli authorities, according to Major General Giora Eiland.  It would appear, at this time, that the Dagestani plane has been secured and the hostages are being released. No shots were fired and it appears that no injuries or deaths have occurred. Conflicting reports continuing to come in regard to the motive and method of the hijacker.  Eiland also reportedly told Israeli radio that authorities now believe that the hijacking had no direct connection with the six-week Palestinian intifada.  EmergencyNet News continues to monitor events in Israel and will provide additional updates as circumstances warrant...

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Instant 01:30CST - 12 Nov 2000

Hijacked Plane On the Ground in Israel; Negotiations Underway

The skyjacked Dagestan airlines plane landed at Uvda military airport in Negev at approximately 06:00 (04:00 GMT). Negotiations are said to be on-going at the time of this report. Reports from Israeli security sources suggest that there may be multiple hijackers and they may possess explosives. There has been some suggestion on the part of the perpetrator(s) that they want to conduct a press conference and present a list of written demands. Israeli security advisor Danny Yatom, within the past hour, described the hijackers as "Chechen Muslim extremists". 

This just in from our affiliate in Israel:

Acting PM/DM Ben-Eliezer on hijacking (NOV.12 - 08:56-IST)

(IsraelWire-11/12) Acting Prime Minister/Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Israel Radio on Sunday morning that everything possible was done to prevent the hijacked Dagestan airliner with 58 on board from landing in Israel. Ben-Eliezer explained that despite Israel’s refusal to permit the plane to land in Israel, at some point it became clear that the option was to permit a landing or risk the flight landing by force or attempting a suicide maneuver that could have had catastrophic results.

The decision was made to escort the hijacked craft to the Negev air force base, with the realization that if the entire event turned sour, the damage would be relatively limited due to the remote location...

Source: http://www.israelwire.com

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19:15CST - 11 Nov 2000

Dagestani Plane Hijacked On Way To Moscow

According to several reports coming into EmergencyNet News, a Dagestan Airlines Tu-154 has reportedly been hijacked while enroute to Moscow, Russia. A Russia Emergencies Ministry spokesman says that the the ill-fated flight is, at the time of this report, on the ground in Baku, Azerbaijan and demanding to be refueled. 

58 people are believed to be on the plane -- 48 passengers and ten crewmembers. The incident began at about 23:50 Moscow time (2050GMT), as one or more gunmen demanded that the plane be flown to Tel Aviv, Israel. The identity and/or motive of the gunmen is not presently known, nor the reason for their request to fly to Tel Aviv. 

© EmergencyNet News Service, 2000. All rights reserved,  Redistribution or republication without expressed permission of ERRI/EmergencyNet News is prohibited by law.

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