Air France Flight 139

Air France Flight 139. The hijacking of this commercial airliner in 1976 precipitated a major international crisis, culminating in a daring long-range military raid. The event, which saw the aircraft diverted to Uganda under the protection of dictator Idi Amin, became a defining moment in counter-terrorism history. The subsequent hostage rescue mission conducted by the Israel Defense Forces at Entebbe International Airport is widely studied for its audacity and precision.

Hijacking and initial events

On 27 June 1976, the Airbus A300 operating the flight departed from Tel Aviv, with a scheduled stop in Athens. After taking off from Athens International Airport, the aircraft was seized by a team of four hijackers, two from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and two from the German Revolutionary Cells (RZ). The hijackers, led by Wadie Haddad's associate Wilfried Böse, commandeered the plane and ordered it to fly to Benghazi, Libya, for refueling. After a six-hour stop on the ground in Libya, the aircraft proceeded to its final destination, Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. Upon arrival, the hijackers were joined by additional armed comrades and received the overt support of the Ugandan Army under President Idi Amin.

Entebbe hostage crisis

At Entebbe International Airport, all 248 passengers and crew were held in the old terminal building. The hijackers, now reinforced, issued demands for the release of 53 prisoners, mostly held in Israel and several other countries including West Germany, Kenya, France, and Switzerland. They threatened to begin executing hostages if their demands were not met. Idi Amin visited the hostages, presenting himself as a mediator while his forces actively collaborated with the terrorists. The non-Israeli and non-Jewish passengers were released in several groups, leaving 105 hostages, predominantly Israeli and Jewish, in captivity. This separation heightened global tensions and underscored the anti-Semitic nature of the hijackers' selection process.

Israeli rescue operation

The Cabinet of Israel, led by Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and advised by Defense Minister Shimon Peres, authorized a high-risk military rescue plan. Dubbed Operation Thunderbolt (later renamed Operation Yonatan), the mission was planned by the Israel Defense Forces under the command of Brigadier General Dan Shomron. On the night of 3 July, four Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft flew over 2,500 miles from Israel to Uganda, evading radar detection. The assault team, which included members of the elite Sayeret Matkal unit led by Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu, landed at Entebbe International Airport and stormed the terminal. In a fierce, brief firefight, all the hijackers and approximately 45 Ugandan Army soldiers were killed. Three hostages, the unit commander Yonatan Netanyahu, and an additional Israeli soldier were killed during the operation.

Aftermath and legacy

The successful raid was met with immense international acclaim for Israel, though it caused a severe diplomatic rupture with many African nations and was condemned by the United Nations Security Council. The operation demonstrated unprecedented capabilities in long-range special forces deployment and had profound effects on global counter-terrorism strategy. In Israel, Yonatan Netanyahu was hailed as a national hero, and the mission bolstered the political standing of Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin. The event significantly weakened the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and contributed to the decline of Wadie Haddad's faction. It also further isolated the regime of Idi Amin, exposing his collaboration with terrorists.

In popular culture

The dramatic events have been depicted in numerous films and books, including the American film *"Raid on Entebbe"* starring Charles Bronson and the Israeli film *"Operation Thunderbolt"* starring Yehoram Gaon. The story has been the subject of documentaries by networks like the BBC and History Channel. It is frequently cited in literature on military strategy, counter-terrorism, and special operations, influencing works about units like the British Special Air Service and the United States Delta Force. The operation remains a staple case study in military academies worldwide, including at West Point and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Category:Aircraft hijackings in 1976 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Uganda Category:Conflicts in 1976 Category:History of Israel