Was Captain Of A Plane Hijacked By Palestinian Militants In 1972

Reginald Levy started his 50th birthday like he did many days, departing Brussels as a pilot for Sabena Airlines on a flight to Tel Aviv. But on this day, May 8th, 1972, the Boeing 707 Levy was flying was hijacked by Palestinian militants about half way through the flight to Israel. The militants forced Levy to land the plane at what is now Ben Gurion Airport, and said they would blow it up if Israel did not release 300 Palestinian prisoners.

That pilot, who became famous for his cool-headed response to the hijacking, passed away last Sunday in Dover in southern England, according to his daughter Linda Lipschitz. Levy was 88.

Also on board the plane was Levy's wife. The two had planned to celebrate their wedding anniversary with dinner in Tel Aviv that night. Fox News reports that Levy talked to the hijackers, keeping them calm and eventually being sent by the militants to relay their demands to the Israeli government officials who had come to the airport. Instead, Levy gave Defense Minister Moshe Dayan details about the attackers, where they were located on the aircraft, and what type of weapons they were carrying.

Nearly a day after landing, Israeli commandos posing as mechanics stormed the plane, killing two militants and capturing two. While several passengers were injured, none were killed.

Levy, who had flown bombers for the Royal Air Force during WWII and took part in the Berlin airlift, continued flying for Sabena until 1982, when he retired.

His daughter told Fox News "Airplanes and flying were his whole life."

FMI: www.sabena.com/EN/Historique_FR.htm