July 23, 1968
The PFLP Hijacks El Al Flight 426
Historical context
On July 23, 1968, El Al Flight 426 landed in Algiers after three PFLP members seized it on the way from Rome.
Archive record
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- Date
- July 23, 1968
- Verified sources
- 2
- Archive threads
- 7
On this day, El Al Flight 426 landed in Algiers after three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine seized it. The U.S. State Department records that the plane left Rome late on July 22 and was forced down early on July 23. It carried 38 passengers and a crew of 10.
The Jewish Virtual Library records that the non-Israeli passengers were released within a day, and that women and children were released on July 27. Twelve Israeli men remained. They and the aircraft were freed on September 1. No one was killed.
Research trail
Sources and further reading
- El Al aircraft hijacking · U.S. Department of State · Foreign Relations of the United States View source
- Hijacking of an El Al flight · Jewish Virtual Library · Jewish Virtual Library View source
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