Air France Flight 8969 was the target of a
hijacking on December 24, 1994, by the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA).
Here’s a breakdown of the key events:
- Hijackers’ goal: The GIA intended to use the hijacked Airbus A300B2-1C (tail number F-GBEC) to detonate explosives over Paris, potentially targeting the Eiffel Tower or the Tour Montparnasse.
- The Incident: The hijackers, dressed as Algerian presidential police, boarded the plane in Algiers, Algeria, before its scheduled departure for Paris.
- Hostages and Casualties: The GIA murdered three passengers, including an Algerian police officer and a Vietnamese diplomat, during the standoff in Algiers.
- Negotiations and Flight to Marseille:After several hours and negotiations, the plane eventually took off from Algiers. However, it had insufficient fuel to reach Paris and was forced to land in Marseille, France, for refueling.
- GIGN Intervention: French Prime Minister Édouard Balladur gave the green light for the elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN), France’s counter-terrorism unit, to intervene.
- Raid and Rescue: The GIGN stormed the plane in Marseille, killing all four hijackers in a 20-minute gun battle.
- Outcome: All 229 remaining occupants (224 passengers and 12 crew, excluding the hijackers and the previously murdered hostages) survived, although 13 passengers and 3 crew members were injured, along with 9 GIGN operatives.
Aftermath
- The hijacked aircraft was written off due to the damage sustained during the raid.
- The crew and GIGN forces received high honors for their bravery.
- This incident was a significant event in counter-terrorism history and has been the subject of documentaries and films, including “The Assault”.
The Newly Released Footage
