Difference between revisions of "Sabena Flight 571"
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Revision as of 02:02, October 6, 2026
Operation Isotope was a 1972 Israeli special forces rescue mission that successfully ended the hijacking of Sabena Flight 571.
Overview:
• Date: May 9, 1972.
• Location: Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion International Airport), Israel.
• Target: Sabena Flight 571, a Boeing 707 traveling from Vienna to Tel Aviv, hijacked by four members of the Black September Aeab "Palestinian" terrorist organization.
• Objective: Rescue nearly 100 hostages and neutralize the hijackers after a 30-hour standoff.
The Mission:
• The Disguise: 16 commandos from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit wore white mechanic overalls to look like airline technicians.
• The Assault: Led by Ehud Barak, the team approached the grounded plane under the guise of fixing a mechanical issue. • The Execution: The commandos stormed the aircraft, ending the takeover in under 10 minutes.
Outcome:
• Casualties: Two male hijackers were killed, and two female hijackers were captured. One passenger tragically died from wounds sustained during the crossfire.
• Notable Participants: Future Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu both took part in the raid, with Netanyahu receiving a minor wound from friendly fire.