Leul Abate
Encyclopedia
Captain
Leul Abate (Amharic: ልኡል አባተ) (born 1954) was the pilot of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961
, which was hijacked
on November 23, 1996, fifteen minutes out from Addis Ababa
to Nairobi
, by three Ethiopians seeking political asylum in Australia. The plane crashed in the Indian Ocean
near Comoros
after running out of fuel, killing 125 of the 175 passengers and crew on board.
Leul observed that, "[The hijackers] knew they wouldn't make it to Australia - they just wanted us to crash. They should be dead. The way they were talking they didn't want to live."
Four hours later, the plane was nearly out of fuel as it approached the Comoros islands. Leul's co-pilot, Yonas Mekuria, had been attacked with an axe. The communications system in the airplane had been disabled. The hijackers ignored his plea to land at the Comoros's Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport
, and instead, one of them, drinking a bottle of whiskey, decided to fly the plane himself.
When the plane ran out of fuel, both engines failed. Leul and Yonas, bleeding and bruised, fought with the hijackers. Leul used a ram air turbine
to preserve the aircraft's most essential functions, but in this mode some hydraulic systems—such as the flaps—were inoperative. This forced Leul to land at more than 175 knots (about 200 miles per hour or 320 kilometers per hour).
Still fighting with the hijackers, Abate tried to ditch the aircraft in shallow waters 500 metres off Le Galawa Beach Hotel near Mitsamiouli
at the northern end of Grande Comore
island, however, at the last moment, one of the hijackers grabbed the controls. The left engine and wingtip struck the water first, causing the aircraft to break up. Island residents and tourists, including a group of scuba
divers and some French doctors on vacation, came to the aid of crash survivors.
125 of the 175 passengers and crew members, including the three hijackers were killed. Both pilots survived the crash and Leul continues to fly for Ethiopian Airlines.
Leul considers Yonas, the co-pilot, the real hero. Yonas fought the hijackers while he himself was bruised and bleeding, giving time for Leul to land the airplane. "He was a life-saver," Leul said.
Leul had been in two previous hijackings. The first, on a local flight, two hijackers with hand grenades entered the cockpit. Leul was forced to fly to Nairobi
.
The second was a few years later. The hijackers held a hostess hostage, entered the cockpit and told Leul to fly to Sweden.
In both cases, Leul had landed safely and no one was hurt.
Pilot in command
The pilot in command of an aircraft is the person aboard the aircraft who is ultimately responsible for its operation and safety during flight. This would be the "captain" in a typical two- or three-pilot flight crew, or "pilot" if there is only one certified and qualified pilot at the controls of...
Leul Abate (Amharic: ልኡል አባተ) (born 1954) was the pilot of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, a Boeing 767-260ER, was hijacked on , en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on a Bombay–Addis Ababa–Nairobi–Brazzaville–Lagos–Abidjan service, by three Ethiopians seeking political asylum in Australia. The plane crash-landed in the Indian Ocean near Comoros due to fuel...
, which was hijacked
Aircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
on November 23, 1996, fifteen minutes out from Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, by three Ethiopians seeking political asylum in Australia. The plane crashed in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
near Comoros
Comoros
The Comoros , officially the Union of the Comoros is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar...
after running out of fuel, killing 125 of the 175 passengers and crew on board.
Leul observed that, "[The hijackers] knew they wouldn't make it to Australia - they just wanted us to crash. They should be dead. The way they were talking they didn't want to live."
Four hours later, the plane was nearly out of fuel as it approached the Comoros islands. Leul's co-pilot, Yonas Mekuria, had been attacked with an axe. The communications system in the airplane had been disabled. The hijackers ignored his plea to land at the Comoros's Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport
Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport
Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport is an international airport located in Moroni, Comoros.-Airlines and destinations:- Accidents and Incidents :...
, and instead, one of them, drinking a bottle of whiskey, decided to fly the plane himself.
When the plane ran out of fuel, both engines failed. Leul and Yonas, bleeding and bruised, fought with the hijackers. Leul used a ram air turbine
Ram air turbine
A ram air turbine is a small turbine that is connected to a hydraulic pump, or electrical generator, installed in an aircraft and used as a power source...
to preserve the aircraft's most essential functions, but in this mode some hydraulic systems—such as the flaps—were inoperative. This forced Leul to land at more than 175 knots (about 200 miles per hour or 320 kilometers per hour).
Still fighting with the hijackers, Abate tried to ditch the aircraft in shallow waters 500 metres off Le Galawa Beach Hotel near Mitsamiouli
Mitsamiouli
Mitsamiouli is a city located on the island of Grande Comore in the Comoros.On 23 November 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 made a crash-landing in the shallow waters 500 meters off shore from Le Galawa Beach Hotel in Mitsamiouli...
at the northern end of Grande Comore
Grande Comore
Grande Comore is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is the largest island in the Comoros nation. Most of its population is of the Comorian ethnic group. Its population as of 2006 is about 316,600. The island's capital is Moroni, which is also the national capital...
island, however, at the last moment, one of the hijackers grabbed the controls. The left engine and wingtip struck the water first, causing the aircraft to break up. Island residents and tourists, including a group of scuba
Scuba set
A scuba set is an independent breathing set that provides a scuba diver with the breathing gas necessary to breathe underwater during scuba diving. It is much used for sport diving and some sorts of work diving....
divers and some French doctors on vacation, came to the aid of crash survivors.
125 of the 175 passengers and crew members, including the three hijackers were killed. Both pilots survived the crash and Leul continues to fly for Ethiopian Airlines.
Leul considers Yonas, the co-pilot, the real hero. Yonas fought the hijackers while he himself was bruised and bleeding, giving time for Leul to land the airplane. "He was a life-saver," Leul said.
Leul had been in two previous hijackings. The first, on a local flight, two hijackers with hand grenades entered the cockpit. Leul was forced to fly to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
.
The second was a few years later. The hijackers held a hostess hostage, entered the cockpit and told Leul to fly to Sweden.
In both cases, Leul had landed safely and no one was hurt.