The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority stated that a domestic passenger flight was forced to divert to the western city of Wau and landed safely on Tuesday, with no casualties reported. According to security sources quoted, the forced landing was due to an attempt to hijack the plane and force it to fly to Chad. The Civil Aviation Authority merely stated that a plane operating a domestic flight was forced to divert earlier in the day, and the situation was quickly brought under control through the coordinated efforts of the crew, local airport authorities, and security agencies. "The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority confirms that a plane operating a domestic flight diverted to Wau and landed safely earlier today, and no injuries to passengers or crew have been reported," the authority stated. "After landing, the situation was immediately brought under control through the coordinated cooperation of the crew, local airport authorities, and security agencies. The specific circumstances of the incident are still under investigation." However, two anonymous security sources revealed that the forced landing was due to an attempted hijacking - it was alleged that the crew on board had tried to force the plane to change its route and fly to Chad, before the crew regained control of the aircraft. "Relevant security and aviation authorities are conducting a joint assessment to ascertain the facts and determine the necessary follow-up measures," the authority stated. "As the investigation progresses and more concrete details are obtained, we will provide further updates." The Civil Aviation Authority also urged the public and media to avoid speculation and rely solely on information released through official channels, promising to provide updates as the investigation continues. In South Sudan, attempts to hijack aircraft are extremely rare - most aviation accidents in the country's history have been related to infrastructure, weather, and aircraft maintenance issues, rather than deliberate on-board security threats. The rarity of such incidents makes Tuesday's allegations particularly serious, as domestic flights in South Sudan are usually equipped with limited on-board security forces compared to regional and international routes. Please continue reading. In South Sudan, an armed man hijacked a humanitarian aircraft and demanded to fly to Chad. The pilot falsely claimed that refueling was needed, allowing the hijacker to be arrested in the city of Wau. Details On Tuesday, a Cessna Grand Caravan turboprop aircraft belonging to the Samaritan's Purse organization was hijacked immediately after takeoff while on a mission to transport medical supplies from Juba to the northeastern Maywut region. According to a police report, the suspect, Yasir Mohammed Yusuf, sneaked into the aircraft cabin and hid before takeoff. The hijacker, who hailed from the disputed region of Abyei, demanded that the pilot fly the plane to Chad, but his motive remains unclear. The hijacker's eventual capture was attributed to the pilot's quick thinking: after several hours of flight, the pilot informed the hijacker that the plane needed to refuel. The aircraft then landed in the northern city of Wau, where Yusuf was immediately taken into police custody. Melissa Strickland, a spokesperson for Samaritan's Purse, expressed gratitude to the security forces for their swift action, stating that it ensured a "safe outcome." No one was injured in the incident, and the police continue to investigate. It's not the specific plane mentioned in the picture, but a plane of this type. This incident is quite unusual, seemingly marking the first hijacking in South Sudan's history. The plane landed safely, the criminal was apprehended, and the investigation is progressing smoothly. Moreover, it was a medical evacuation aircraft belonging to a relief organization. The plane was originally bound for Maiwut in Upper Nile State, but due to the hijacker hiding in the cockpit, it was diverted to Chad. Fortunately, it landed safely in Wau. It can only be said that the hijacker's professional skills were lacking. If he had been more skilled, this incident might have been successful. Moving forward, it's imperative to strengthen the scrutiny and security checks for boarding personnel.
