El Al Flight 432
Encyclopedia
El Al Flight 432, was a Boeing 720-058B
(a shortened Boeing 707-120B) that was attacked by a squad of four armed Palestinian militants, members of the Lebanese-based militant organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
, while it was preparing for takeoff at the Zurich International Airport in Kloten
on February 18, 1969. Several of the crew members were injured during the attack and the plane was sevearly damaged, but a much bigger disaster was averted due to Mordechai Rahamim, an undercover Israeli security guard
stationed on the plane who opened fire at the attackers and managed to kill the squad leader and prevent a greater disaster.
. During that time the plane had 17 passengers and 11 crew members on board. The terrorists were armed with AK-47
rifles and grenades. The terrorists began shooting at the plane and struck the cockpit and fuselage, seriously wounding the co-pilot Yoram Peres whom died of his wounds a month later. The planes security guard Mordechai Rahamim, a former soldier in the Israeli elite special forces unit Sayeret Matkal
, ran to the cockpit and fired at The attackers from the window of the cockpit, and then left the plane through the rear emergency slide door, and continued the shootout with the attackers. During the shootout Rahamim managed to kill the squad leader, and the battle eventually ended only when the Swiss security forces arrived at the scene.
, and the weapons and explosives were brought to Switzerland through diplomatic mail of one an Arab country.
During the interrogation Mordechai Rahamim admitted that he worked for Israel's security services. After a month in arrest he was released on bail until the beginning of his trial. Rahamim returned to Israel.
. The state of Israel sent the state prosecutor Gabriel Bach to Switzerland to handle the defense of Rahamim. An indictment was filed against the three terrorists which included deliberate homicide of a person. The indictment against Rahamim included two sections: deliberate homicide of a person due to a serious excitement which occurred as a result of circumstances justifying the excitement, and an illegal action on behalf of a foreign country.
During the trial Israel was forced to admit for the first time that security personnel accompany Israeli flights, to prevent hijackings and terrorism from happening in the air. On 23 December 1969 the trial ended. Rahamim was acquitted on charges of killing the terrorist squad leader and three terrorists were sentenced to twelve years imprisonment and hard labor.
Boeing 720
The Boeing 720 is a four-engine narrow-body short- to medium-range passenger jet airliner. Developed by Boeing in the late 1950s from the Boeing 707, the 720 has a shorter fuselage and less range...
(a shortened Boeing 707-120B) that was attacked by a squad of four armed Palestinian militants, members of the Lebanese-based militant organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a Palestinian Marxist-Leninist organisation founded in 1967. It has consistently been the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization , the largest being Fatah...
, while it was preparing for takeoff at the Zurich International Airport in Kloten
Kloten
-External links:* -References:...
on February 18, 1969. Several of the crew members were injured during the attack and the plane was sevearly damaged, but a much bigger disaster was averted due to Mordechai Rahamim, an undercover Israeli security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
stationed on the plane who opened fire at the attackers and managed to kill the squad leader and prevent a greater disaster.
The attack
The terrorist cell ambushed the plane which was preparing for takeoff at the Zurich International Airport in KlotenKloten
-External links:* -References:...
. During that time the plane had 17 passengers and 11 crew members on board. The terrorists were armed with AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
rifles and grenades. The terrorists began shooting at the plane and struck the cockpit and fuselage, seriously wounding the co-pilot Yoram Peres whom died of his wounds a month later. The planes security guard Mordechai Rahamim, a former soldier in the Israeli elite special forces unit Sayeret Matkal
Sayeret Matkal
Sayeret Matkal is a special forces unit of the Israel Defence Forces , which is subordinated to the intelligence directorate Aman. First and foremost a field intelligence-gathering unit, conducting deep reconnaissance behind enemy lines to obtain strategic intelligence, Sayeret Matkal is also...
, ran to the cockpit and fired at The attackers from the window of the cockpit, and then left the plane through the rear emergency slide door, and continued the shootout with the attackers. During the shootout Rahamim managed to kill the squad leader, and the battle eventually ended only when the Swiss security forces arrived at the scene.
Aftermath
Rahamim was arrested by the Swiss police, along with the members of the terrorist cell. The terrorists were found to be carying many weapons and explosives as well as leaflets in German which were intended to be used to explain the goals of the operation to the Swiss people, comparing it to William Tell's operations. During an investigation it became clear that the terrorists came to Switzerland from DamascusDamascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, and the weapons and explosives were brought to Switzerland through diplomatic mail of one an Arab country.
During the interrogation Mordechai Rahamim admitted that he worked for Israel's security services. After a month in arrest he was released on bail until the beginning of his trial. Rahamim returned to Israel.
The trail
On 27 November 1969, the trial of Rahamim and the three terrorists, Mohamed Abu Al-Haija, Ibrahim Tawfik Youssef and Amina Dahbour, began in Winterthur, SwitzerlandWinterthur
Winterthur is a city in the canton of Zurich in northern Switzerland. It has the country's sixth largest population with an estimate of more than 100,000 people. In the local dialect and by its inhabitants, it is usually abbreviated to Winti...
. The state of Israel sent the state prosecutor Gabriel Bach to Switzerland to handle the defense of Rahamim. An indictment was filed against the three terrorists which included deliberate homicide of a person. The indictment against Rahamim included two sections: deliberate homicide of a person due to a serious excitement which occurred as a result of circumstances justifying the excitement, and an illegal action on behalf of a foreign country.
During the trial Israel was forced to admit for the first time that security personnel accompany Israeli flights, to prevent hijackings and terrorism from happening in the air. On 23 December 1969 the trial ended. Rahamim was acquitted on charges of killing the terrorist squad leader and three terrorists were sentenced to twelve years imprisonment and hard labor.