El Al Flight 426 hijacking

El Al Flight 426 was an El Al passenger flight hijacked on July 23, 1968 by three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), setting off a wave of hijackings by the PFLP.

History
The aircraft, a Boeing 707, was en route from London Heathrow Airport to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport and then to Lod Airport, now known as Ben Gurion International Airport. The plane was diverted to Algiers.

One of the hijackers opened the unlocked door to the flight deck, clubbed the copilot with the butt of his pistol and ordered the plane to fly to Algiers. The other two hijackers threatened the passengers with pistols and hand grenades.

When the plane landed at Dar El Beida (renamed Houari Boumedienne Airport), Algerian authorities impounded the plane. The following day they sent all non-Israeli passengers to France on Air Algérie Caravelle jets. Twelve Israeli passengers and the crew of ten were held as hostages. Ten women and children were released over the weekend. The hijackers were identified as members of the Jordan-based Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. They were equipped with Iranian and Indian passports.

The Israeli and Algerian governments negotiated the return of the hostages and plane through diplomatic channels. Five weeks later, everyone was released in exchange for 16 convicted Arab terrorists.