Hero pilot who refused to abandon passengers in 1976 Air France hijacking dies aged 95

Hero French pilot who refused to abandon his passengers after his plane was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and flown to Uganda in 1976 dies aged 95

  • Michel Bacos was flying from Tel Aviv to Paris when his plane was hijacked
  • Palestinians ordered him to fly to Uganda where all Israelis were taken hostage 
  • Mr Bacos was offered the chance to leave, but volunteered to stay behind
  • He was freed along with the majority of the hostages in a raid by Israeli troops 

A French pilot dubbed a hero for refusing to abandon his passengers after his Air France plane was hijacked in 1976 and flown to Uganda has died at the age of 95.

Michel Bacos took the leading in negotiating with his captors after the plane landed in Entebbe until 110 hostages were rescued when Israeli commandos attacked.

Mr Bacos was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest decoration, for his actions. He passed away in Nice on Tuesday. 

Michel Bacos (pictured centre with his wife in 1976 immediately after the siege) was flying from Tel Aviv to Paris in June 1976 when his plane was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists

City mayor Christian Estrosi revealed the death, saying: ‘By refusing with bravery to quit in the face of anti-Semitism and barbary, he honoured France.’

The drama unfolded as Mr Bacos was flying from Tel Aviv to Paris in June 1976 when his plane was hijacked by four German-Palestinian men during a stopover in Athens.

The gunmen forced Bacos and his crew to fly to Benghazi, in Libya, before going on to Entebbe, where they were met at the airport by Ugandan troops.

Idi Amin, leader of Uganda at the time, was also present.

All passengers who were not Israeli were allowed to leave, but Mr Barcos refused to go with them, saying that leaving some passengers behind was ‘unimaginable’.

Mr Barcos gave his crew the option of leaving as well, but they unanimously agreed to stay with him. They later received the French Order of Merit.

Mr Bacos (right, with another hostage) was offered the chance to leave by the terrorists - who were targeting Israelis - but refused, saying that leaving his passengers was 'unimaginable'

Mr Bacos (right, with another hostage) was offered the chance to leave by the terrorists – who were targeting Israelis – but refused, saying that leaving his passengers was ‘unimaginable’

Benny Davidson, the youngest survivor of the hostage situation, described Mr Bacos as a ‘role model’ and said he took a leading role with the hijackers.

He told the BBC: ‘Whenever someone needed something, he took a leading position on behalf of the hostages and spoke to the terrorists or the Ugandan authorities.

‘He set an example as a role model and how to behave even though all hell is breaking loose around you.’

In total, 12 crew and 94 passengers were held in the airport terminal for five days before a daring raid by 100 Israeli commandos freed them. 

Three hostages died after the hijackers opened fire on them, along with the leader of the commandos – Yonatan Netanyahu, the brother of current Israeli leader Binyamin Netanyahu. One more hostage later died in hospital.

All four of the hijackers were killed alongside 45 members of Uganda’s armed forces. Eleven Soviet-built MiGs were also destroyed. 

 

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