Air France A-300B Airbus hijacked from Athens arrives at Entebbe, Uganda

On 27June 1976, Air France Flight 139, en route from Tel Aviv to Paris was hijacked after a stopover in Athens. The four hijackers were members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Bader-Meinhof gang in Germany. Once hijacked, the aircraft was diverted to Entebbe Airport in Uganda, as it was known that Idi Amin was sympathetic to the Palestinian cause as well as being eager to gain the admiration of the Arab states. On the 29 June 1976, the aircraft arrived at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. The hijackers demanded the release of 53 Palestinian combatants and sympathisers held in Israel and other countries. Upon arriving at the airport, the hijackers were met by members of the Ugandan armed forces. Amin also provided the hijackers with additional weapons and personal. On 4 July 1976, the Israeli Defence Force launched a daring raid on Entebbe Airport in Uganda, more than 4000 km away from Israel. This raid succeeded in freeing the hostages, despite casualties. All the hijackers were killed, 48 Ugandan soldiers, three hostages killed and one Israeli commando, Yoni Netanyahu, the oldest brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Eleven Ugandan Mig Fighter jets were damaged or destroyed. References 1976: Israelis rescue Entebbe hostages [Online], available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk  [Accessed 21 June 2010] Special: Mossad took photos, Entebbe Operation was on its way [Online], available at: http://www.ynetnews.com   [Accessed 21 June 2010] Operation Entebbe [Online], available at: http://www.knesset.gov.il  [Accessed 21 June 2010]