Today in African History

On April 5th, 1988, Kuwait Airways flight KU422 departed Bangkok for Kuwait International Airport (KWI) with 97 passengers and 15 crew members, including three Kuwaiti royals. Three hours after takeoff, several Lebanese passengers armed with guns and grenades hijacked the plane and forced the crew to fly to Iran.

After being denied landing in Iran, the hijackers forced the plane to land at Mashhad Airport (MHD). They demanded the release of 17 Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim prisoners held by the Kuwaiti government, threatening to blow up the plane and kill hostages if their demands were not met.

The Iranian Prime Minister negotiated the release of 25 hostages, and negotiations continued between the hijackers and a team of Kuwaiti negotiators. Another 32 hostages were released, but negotiations stalled due to Kuwaiti officials refusing to condemn their support for Iraq and the hostages refusing to release any more passengers.

The hijackers forced the Iranian authorities to refuel the plane, and it took off for Beirut but was denied landing. The plane then headed to Damascus but was again denied permission to land. The Government of Cyprus finally granted permission for the plane to land at Larnaca Airport (LCA).

Negotiations led to the release of 13 more hostages, but the hijackers became frustrated and shot and killed two Kuwaiti passengers. They threatened to fly the plane into the Royal Palace in Kuwait City and carry out a "slow and quiet massacre" of the remaining passengers and crew.

After tensions escalated, the Cypriot authorities finally refuelled the plane, and it took off for Algiers on April 13th. 

On April 20th, the hijackers released all the remaining hostages onboard before surrendering themselves to the Algerian authorities.

The hijackers were allegedly given safe passage out of Algeria and were flown to an undisclosed location, never to be identified or seen again.