No easy homecoming - Il ritorno del Landshut
- Autore Discussione LH243
- Data d'inizio
Esattamente 40 anni fa cominciava il sequestro del "Landshut". Qui di seguito un articolo a riguardo ed una cronologia degli eventi:
“Landshut” – 40 Years Later
On October 13, 1977, four decades ago, in the middle of the “German Autumn”, the most dramatic aircraft hijacking in Lufthansa history began.
On October 13, 1977, 40 years ago today, the most dramatic aircraft hijacking in the company’s history began for Lufthansa – a crime that became deeply ingrained in the memory of Lufthansa and all of Germany. On October 13, four terrorists hijacked a Lufthansa Boeing 737 with the registration D-ABCE and the name “Landshut”, which had departed from Majorca to Frankfurt as flight LH 181 with 86 passengers and five crew members on board. Their objective was to secure the release of imprisoned Red Army Faction (RAF) terrorists. This hijacking, together with other events of that year, went down in German history books as the “German Autumn”.
Every day, pilots take responsibility for the people on board entrusted to their care. For the passionate pilot Jürgen Schumann, his career was not a job like any other. He became an aircraft captain in May 1977. Five months later, when he was captain of the hijacked aircraft, events unfolded that no chapter in a textbook could have prepared him for. More than once, the terrorist leader threatened to execute passengers and crew members. Despite the perpetual threat, Schumann stood up for his passengers and crew. The situation on board became increasingly difficult to bear as the hijacking dragged on and an erratic flight took the “Landshut” from Rome to Larnaca, Bahrain, and Dubai, and finally to Aden.
Jürgen Schumann, whose only concern had been for his crew and passengers, was shot in cold blood by the terrorists in Aden on October 16, 1977. Co-pilot Jürgen Vietor flew the “Landshut” to Mogadishu on his own, where a commando unit of the Federal Border Protection Group GSG 9 rescued the passengers and crew members on October 18. Three of the four terrorists were killed; one flight attendant and three passengers suffered light injuries.
Jürgen Schumann expended great effort, stood up for his passengers and crew members and acted both courageously and responsibly. In these exceptional circumstances, he took responsibility for the people entrusted to his care. The decision by the crisis team of the federal government to rescue the “Landshut” hostages could not prevent his death.
October 13th (all times in CET)
1:55 p.m.
The Boeing 737 with the registration D-ABCE and the name “Landshut” takes off as flight LH 181 from Majorca to Frankfurt with 86 passengers and five crew members on board. Above Elba, four terrorists storm the cockpit and force the pilot to change course. Their leader, Zohair Youssif Akache, calls himself “Captain Martyr Mahmud”.
3:40 p.m.
The aircraft lands in Rome, where Akache announces the demands of his commando: the release of the imprisoned members of the so-called first generation of the RAF, the release of two Palestinians held in Turkey, and the payment of 15 million U.S. dollars. At the order of Francesco Cossiga, then Minister of the Interior and later Prime Minister of Italy, the aircraft is refueled.
5:40 p.m.
Takeoff in Rome.
8:40 p.m.
The aircraft lands in Larnaca, where it is refueled.
10:50 p.m.
Takeoff in Larnaca. Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, and Kuwait deny landing permission.
October 14th
1.50 a.m.
Landing in Bahrain without clearance. The plane is refueled following threats to shoot the copilot.
3.25 a.m.
Takeoff from Bahrain.
5.50 a.m.
Landing in Dubai. The runway, which is blocked by trucks, is cleared at the last minute. The situation on board becomes unbearable after the plane runs out of kerosene. Eventually, the aircraft is refueled. In the meantime, a Boeing 707 (D-ABOX) carrying the delegation of Minister of State Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski has landed in Dubai. GSG-9 commander Ulrich Wegener tries to prepare local soldiers for a storming of the “Landshut”. The “Landshut” takes off before the mission can begin.
15. Oktober 1977
Die Landshut steht weiterhin in Dubai.
October 16th
12:20 p.m.
Takeoff in Dubai. Oman denies clearance for landing.
3:50 p.m.
Landing in Aden. The airport is entirely blocked by armored vehicles. Copilot Jürgen Vietor lands the plane in the sand between the barricaded runways. It is unclear whether the aircraft has been damaged in the process. Jürgen Schumann exits the plane for an outdoor check. He is briefly out of view of the hijackers and is shot by Akache after returning to the cabin. The aircraft is refueled and Jürgen Vietor successfully takes off with the “Landshut”.
October 17th
2:00 a.m.
Takeoff in Aden with a course set for Mogadishu.
4:30 a.m.
Landing in Mogadishu. Jürgen Vietor lands without waiting for clearance. The hijackers repeat their demands, setting an ultimatum for 3 p.m.
11.45 a.m.
The Boeing 707 carrying Minister of State Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski lands in Mogadishu. Shortly before the expiration of the ultimatum, the German ambassador to Somalia, Dr. Michael Libal, informs the hijackers that the German government is willing to meet their demands. He succeeds in extending the ultimatum by another ten hours.
5:30 p.m.
The Boeing 707 (D-ABUB) carrying a GSG-9 commando lands in Mogadishu. The Somali government agrees to allow the aircraft to be stormed.
October 18th
12:05 a.m.
Start of “Operation Feuerzauber”. GSG-9 officers, with the support of two members of the British special forces unit SAS storm the “Landshut”. All hostages and crew members survive the rescue operation. Three of the terrorists are killed. The terrorist Souheila Sayeh survives, although she sustains heavy injuries. One GSG-9 officer, flight attendant Gabi Dillman, and three passengers are lightly injured. That night, via a dedicated line between the task forces in Bonn and at Lufthansa, Chancellor Helmut Schmidt expresses his gratitude towards Lufthansa and all its employees who were involved in resolving the crisis. On the same day, all hostages fit for transport, the delegation of Minister of State Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski, and the GSG-9 officers are flown back to Germany.
1:51 p.m.
The Boeing 707 carrying the liberated hostages and crew members lands at the Rhein-Main airport. High-ranking representatives of Lufthansa and the state and federal government join hundreds of Lufthansa employees and journalists to welcome the homecomers on the tarmac near the Schmetterlingshalle (“Butterfly Hangar”), but the joy of the reunion is overshadowed by sorrow over the senseless death of flight captain Jürgen Schumann.
“Landshut” – 40 Years Later
On October 13, 1977, four decades ago, in the middle of the “German Autumn”, the most dramatic aircraft hijacking in Lufthansa history began.
On October 13, 1977, 40 years ago today, the most dramatic aircraft hijacking in the company’s history began for Lufthansa – a crime that became deeply ingrained in the memory of Lufthansa and all of Germany. On October 13, four terrorists hijacked a Lufthansa Boeing 737 with the registration D-ABCE and the name “Landshut”, which had departed from Majorca to Frankfurt as flight LH 181 with 86 passengers and five crew members on board. Their objective was to secure the release of imprisoned Red Army Faction (RAF) terrorists. This hijacking, together with other events of that year, went down in German history books as the “German Autumn”.
Every day, pilots take responsibility for the people on board entrusted to their care. For the passionate pilot Jürgen Schumann, his career was not a job like any other. He became an aircraft captain in May 1977. Five months later, when he was captain of the hijacked aircraft, events unfolded that no chapter in a textbook could have prepared him for. More than once, the terrorist leader threatened to execute passengers and crew members. Despite the perpetual threat, Schumann stood up for his passengers and crew. The situation on board became increasingly difficult to bear as the hijacking dragged on and an erratic flight took the “Landshut” from Rome to Larnaca, Bahrain, and Dubai, and finally to Aden.
Jürgen Schumann, whose only concern had been for his crew and passengers, was shot in cold blood by the terrorists in Aden on October 16, 1977. Co-pilot Jürgen Vietor flew the “Landshut” to Mogadishu on his own, where a commando unit of the Federal Border Protection Group GSG 9 rescued the passengers and crew members on October 18. Three of the four terrorists were killed; one flight attendant and three passengers suffered light injuries.
Jürgen Schumann expended great effort, stood up for his passengers and crew members and acted both courageously and responsibly. In these exceptional circumstances, he took responsibility for the people entrusted to his care. The decision by the crisis team of the federal government to rescue the “Landshut” hostages could not prevent his death.
October 13th (all times in CET)
1:55 p.m.
The Boeing 737 with the registration D-ABCE and the name “Landshut” takes off as flight LH 181 from Majorca to Frankfurt with 86 passengers and five crew members on board. Above Elba, four terrorists storm the cockpit and force the pilot to change course. Their leader, Zohair Youssif Akache, calls himself “Captain Martyr Mahmud”.
3:40 p.m.
The aircraft lands in Rome, where Akache announces the demands of his commando: the release of the imprisoned members of the so-called first generation of the RAF, the release of two Palestinians held in Turkey, and the payment of 15 million U.S. dollars. At the order of Francesco Cossiga, then Minister of the Interior and later Prime Minister of Italy, the aircraft is refueled.
5:40 p.m.
Takeoff in Rome.
8:40 p.m.
The aircraft lands in Larnaca, where it is refueled.
10:50 p.m.
Takeoff in Larnaca. Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, and Kuwait deny landing permission.
October 14th
1.50 a.m.
Landing in Bahrain without clearance. The plane is refueled following threats to shoot the copilot.
3.25 a.m.
Takeoff from Bahrain.
5.50 a.m.
Landing in Dubai. The runway, which is blocked by trucks, is cleared at the last minute. The situation on board becomes unbearable after the plane runs out of kerosene. Eventually, the aircraft is refueled. In the meantime, a Boeing 707 (D-ABOX) carrying the delegation of Minister of State Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski has landed in Dubai. GSG-9 commander Ulrich Wegener tries to prepare local soldiers for a storming of the “Landshut”. The “Landshut” takes off before the mission can begin.
15. Oktober 1977
Die Landshut steht weiterhin in Dubai.
October 16th
12:20 p.m.
Takeoff in Dubai. Oman denies clearance for landing.
3:50 p.m.
Landing in Aden. The airport is entirely blocked by armored vehicles. Copilot Jürgen Vietor lands the plane in the sand between the barricaded runways. It is unclear whether the aircraft has been damaged in the process. Jürgen Schumann exits the plane for an outdoor check. He is briefly out of view of the hijackers and is shot by Akache after returning to the cabin. The aircraft is refueled and Jürgen Vietor successfully takes off with the “Landshut”.
October 17th
2:00 a.m.
Takeoff in Aden with a course set for Mogadishu.
4:30 a.m.
Landing in Mogadishu. Jürgen Vietor lands without waiting for clearance. The hijackers repeat their demands, setting an ultimatum for 3 p.m.
11.45 a.m.
The Boeing 707 carrying Minister of State Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski lands in Mogadishu. Shortly before the expiration of the ultimatum, the German ambassador to Somalia, Dr. Michael Libal, informs the hijackers that the German government is willing to meet their demands. He succeeds in extending the ultimatum by another ten hours.
5:30 p.m.
The Boeing 707 (D-ABUB) carrying a GSG-9 commando lands in Mogadishu. The Somali government agrees to allow the aircraft to be stormed.
October 18th
12:05 a.m.
Start of “Operation Feuerzauber”. GSG-9 officers, with the support of two members of the British special forces unit SAS storm the “Landshut”. All hostages and crew members survive the rescue operation. Three of the terrorists are killed. The terrorist Souheila Sayeh survives, although she sustains heavy injuries. One GSG-9 officer, flight attendant Gabi Dillman, and three passengers are lightly injured. That night, via a dedicated line between the task forces in Bonn and at Lufthansa, Chancellor Helmut Schmidt expresses his gratitude towards Lufthansa and all its employees who were involved in resolving the crisis. On the same day, all hostages fit for transport, the delegation of Minister of State Hans-Jürgen Wischnewski, and the GSG-9 officers are flown back to Germany.
1:51 p.m.
The Boeing 707 carrying the liberated hostages and crew members lands at the Rhein-Main airport. High-ranking representatives of Lufthansa and the state and federal government join hundreds of Lufthansa employees and journalists to welcome the homecomers on the tarmac near the Schmetterlingshalle (“Butterfly Hangar”), but the joy of the reunion is overshadowed by sorrow over the senseless death of flight captain Jürgen Schumann.
Articolo della CNN
Vintage fliers: Lufthansa restores historic aircraft
http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/lufthansa-vintage-aircraft/index.html
Vintage fliers: Lufthansa restores historic aircraft
http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/lufthansa-vintage-aircraft/index.html
Ripesco questo thread per un breve aggiornamento. Il Landshut é arrivato giá da un anno all´aeroporto di Friedrichshafen ed é al momento in storage dentro un hangar nel perimetro aeroportuale. Lufthansa si trova al momento in contatto con diversi investitori privati e due musei per poter cofinanziare i lavori di restauro necessari e la successiva esposizione museale. Purtroppo per ora tutti i lavori di restauro sono bloccati fino a che non ci sará un accordo. Le tempistiche paiono non essere veloci.
Letto solo ora il post del 13/10/2017 di LH243 con la storia del dirottamento.
Considerazioni sparse tra il serio ed il faceto:
A parte questo, cosa significa il nome “Landshut”?
Negli anni del tutto cartaceo, dubito che un volo dalle Baleari alla Germania si portasse dietro le cartine del Medio Oriente, men che meno dell’Africa... Il mio dubbio ovviamente non riguarda il rispettare aerovie o spazi aerei, ma io - già oltrepassato Israele - non avrei minimamente idea della prua approssimativa per raggiungere tutti gli altri posti dove sono atterrati :astonished:
Chissà come avranno fatto...
Considerazioni sparse tra il serio ed il faceto:
Registration che dovrebbe essere dichiarata illegale per tutelare gli psicopatici-maniaci-compulsivi come il sottoscritto: A, B, C, E :wall: :roll:
A parte questo, cosa significa il nome “Landshut”?
Questo ha risolto una delle mie curiosità di sempre: chissà se da qualche parte del mondo, per chissà quale ragione, una aereo Multi Crew è mai stato pilotato da una persona sola.
Ovviamente lasciamo perdere che questi voli saranno stati condotti alla bene e meglio, senza piani di volo, ecc. (e ci mancherebbe), ma in ogni caso mi chiedo: come avranno fatto per la navigazione?
Negli anni del tutto cartaceo, dubito che un volo dalle Baleari alla Germania si portasse dietro le cartine del Medio Oriente, men che meno dell’Africa... Il mio dubbio ovviamente non riguarda il rispettare aerovie o spazi aerei, ma io - già oltrepassato Israele - non avrei minimamente idea della prua approssimativa per raggiungere tutti gli altri posti dove sono atterrati :astonished:
Chissà come avranno fatto...