The hijacking of KLM flight 861

KLM BOEING 737-8K2 PH-BXL (MSN 30359)

Today marks the 51st anniversary of the hijacking of KLM flight 861, which was en route from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS/EHAM) to Tokyo Haneda (HND/RJTT). The Boeing 747-200, named Mississippi, carried over 250 people when three individuals, allegedly from the Arab Youth Organization for the Liberation of Palestine, commandeered the aircraft over Iraq.

On the 25th of November 1973 KLM Flight 861, a regular service from Amsterdam to Tokyo-Haneda with scheduled stops in Athens (ATH/LGAV), Beirut (BEY/OLBA), and Delhi (DEL/VIDP), was overtaken by three passengers' mid-flight over Iraq. Claiming affiliation with the Arab Youth Organization for the Liberation of Palestine, they redirected the plane to several locations—Damascus, Nicosia, Tripoli, Malta, and finally Dubai—where they surrendered. All 247 passengers and 17 crew members emerged unharmed from the ordeal.

On the third segment of its journey, between Beirut and Delhi, KLM flight 861 was abruptly hijacked. The perpetrators, asserting ties to the Arab Youth Organization for the Liberation of Palestine, initially demanded to be flown to Damascus, Syria. Subsequently, they sought to return to Europe, targeting Nicosia, Cyprus, as their next stop. There, they leveraged the hijacking to press for the release of seven Palestinian prisoners. When their demands were not met, they ordered the aircraft to proceed to Tripoli, Libya.

The same flight number continues to designate the direct Amsterdam to Tokyo route today.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: KLM

Code: KL/KLM

Aircraft: Boeing 747-206B

Registration: PH-BUA

Serial Number: 19922

Engines: 4 x PW JT9D-7W

First Flew: 13/12/1970