1972 Moroccan coup attempt
Encyclopedia
In August 1972 a coup was attempted against Hassan II of Morocco
.
The attempt was orchestrated by General Mohamed Oufkir
, a close advisor to King Hassan. On August 16, three Northrop F-5 jets, acting on Oufkir's orders, intercepted Hassan's Boeing 727
as returned from France
. They then opened fire on the 727. However, the F-5's guns were only loaded with practice ammunition and not missiles, lessening their effectiveness. One of the F-5 pilots also attempted to ram King Hassan's 727, but missed the jet. Reportedly, King Hassan (himself a pilot), grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots, "Stop firing! The tyrant is dead!" Fooled, the rebel pilots broke off their attack.
Hassan's plane landed safely at Rabat
's airport, which was strafed by air force jets, killing eight and injuring 40. Kenitra Airport
, where most of the rebellious air force officers were from, was surrounded and hundreds arrested.
Oufkir was found dead of gunshot wounds later on August 16, ostensibly from suicide.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
.
The attempt was orchestrated by General Mohamed Oufkir
Mohamed Oufkir
General Mohammad Oufkir was a Moroccan Berber politician.As the right hand man of king Hassan II in the 1960s and early 1970s, Oufkir led government supervision of politicians, unionists and the religious establishment...
, a close advisor to King Hassan. On August 16, three Northrop F-5 jets, acting on Oufkir's orders, intercepted Hassan's Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
as returned from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They then opened fire on the 727. However, the F-5's guns were only loaded with practice ammunition and not missiles, lessening their effectiveness. One of the F-5 pilots also attempted to ram King Hassan's 727, but missed the jet. Reportedly, King Hassan (himself a pilot), grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots, "Stop firing! The tyrant is dead!" Fooled, the rebel pilots broke off their attack.
Hassan's plane landed safely at Rabat
Rabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
's airport, which was strafed by air force jets, killing eight and injuring 40. Kenitra Airport
Kenitra Airport
Kenitra Air Base is a military airport in Kenitra, the capital city of the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region in Morocco. It is also known as the Third Royal Air Force Base, operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.-History:...
, where most of the rebellious air force officers were from, was surrounded and hundreds arrested.
Oufkir was found dead of gunshot wounds later on August 16, ostensibly from suicide.