Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 347
Encyclopedia
Scandinavian Airlines System Flight 347 was a scheduled domestic flight, which, on 3 November 1994, was hijacked
shortly after take-off. The flight, from Bardufoss Airport
via Bodø Airport
to Oslo Airport, Fornebu
in Norway
, was operated by a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 belonging to Scandinavian Airlines System
(SAS). The hijacker was Haris Keč, a Bosnian living in Norway, who made demands that Norwegian authorities help to stop the humanitarian suffering in his home country caused by the Bosnian War
. No-one was injured in the incident.
Keč hijacked the aircraft with 122 passengers and a crew of 6 in mid-air after leaving Bardufoss. The aircraft landed as scheduled at Bodø, where all women, children and seniors were let off, along with two of the cabin crew
. The aircraft then departed Bodø with 77 passengers and a crew of 4. It was diverted to Gardermoen, where Keč made his demands. He surrendered at about 21:00, seven hours after take-off from Bardufoss, after some of his demands had been met. He was sentenced to four years prison for the incident.
, 122 people boarded the aircraft, including a large group of soldiers who were on leave of absence and on their way home to Southern Norway. Representatives from the ground handlers stated that none of the passengers acted suspiciously.
During the first leg of the flight, at about 15:00, Keč, wearing a winter coat, got up from his seat and walked to the front of the aircraft. A flight attendant stopped him. After talking for a short while, and another flight attendant came by, he was let into the cockpit. No information about the hijacking was given to the passengers until arrival at Bodø. Bodø Airport was evacuated and the aircraft parked at Bodø Main Air Station
, the military section. After landing, by order of the hijacker, the passengers were informed that all women, children under 18 and people over 60 were to leave the aircraft. After this had happened, there were 77 passengers and four crew members left. The aircraft departed Bodø at about 16:00 and headed for Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, which was closed for all other traffic.
After the aircraft had landed at Gardermoen at 17:20, contact was established between Keč and the police negotiator Morten, who also had been the prime negotiator during Aeroflot Flight 137, a hijacking that also had taken place at the airport. Keč predominantly spoke English and insisted that he simply be referred to as "the Bosnian". He immediately informed that he had not hurt any of the crew or passengers, and that he was not affiliated with anyone. His immediate demands were that official representatives were to tell the world what needed to be done to solve the conflict in Bosnia. He then gave a presentation of the situation and that his only intentions were to help his countrymen. For several minutes, the conversion was about the lack of help Keč felt was being given to his home country.
Eventually Morten requested that a helicopter with medical supplies be moved next to the aircraft, for which Keč granted permission. Contact between the pair was lost and Morten had to call Keč six times before getting a response. After 15 minutes, Keč again resumed communication. He demanded that he talk to someone from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
, and said he wanted media coverage of the incident. "I do not need publicity myself," he said. "I only need to arrange a press conference for the whole world community and the media, and that someone from the Norwegian government promises me and the world community that they will ensure that the United Nations
(UN) in New York
attempts to open all corridors in Bosnia to feed people in Bosnia so they can survive the winter." Keč indicated that if this did not lead to anything, he would go to the UN himself and that his friends would support him. He gave the authorities one hour to meet his demands before he would fly to another destination.
At 19:02, Keč demanded 10 tonnes (9.8 LT) of aviation fuel
and food for two to three days for 80 people. Three minutes later, Morten informed Keč that the chief of police had held a press conference where Keč's demands and goals had been presented and that it had been followed by all major Norwegian newspapers and television channels. Keč responded that he did not need the chief of police, but someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as Prime Minister
Gro Harlem Brundtland
, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bjørn Tore Godal
or the Norwegian Ambassador to the United Nations. Morten stated that it was not possible to get the prime minister to the airport in just five minutes. Keč responded that if this did not happen within reasonable time, he would fly to another country.
At 20:04 stated that he did not believe in Thorvald Stoltenberg
, the minister of foreign affairs, the prime minister or any UN ambassador. Six minutes later, he demanded 25 tonnes (24.6 LT) of medicines for Bosnia. After a positive response from Morten, Keč stated that he needed to make Bosnia's situation known in the media. He then demanded that Godal make a speech from the European Parliament
. Later it was confirmed that requested medicines would be sent by air to Bosnia the following day.
Morten then stated that they did not feel that Keč was doing things the right way. If he chose to fly to a new airport, negotiations would have to start again, perhaps in a different language. Morten urged Keč to calm down and that they wanted to solve the situation just as much as him. Keč responded by pleading for help for Bosnia. At 20:50, Keč stated "I wish to release everyone and myself. Both Bosnians and Norwegians will understand this". After confirming his surrender would occur at 21:00, Keč stated that he was "cold and calm" and that he intended to surrender without any trouble. Directed by the negotiation, Keč went to the door, opened it and was arrested.
According to the police, the passengers behaved very calmly, given the circumstances. Keč allowed several of the passengers to use their mobile telephones, allowing one of them to communicate with the police and keep Sheriff Jan Bergen updated on the situation. Anti-terror police had been called to the scene, and there were plans to storm the aircraft if the situation escalated. After the incident, the police refused to say if they would have stormed the aircraft if Keč followed through his threats to depart to another airport. During the last stages of the incident, another aircraft was parked beside the MD-82, which the police confirmed played a role towards the end of the hijacking. All communication towards the central government was made to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice, and neither the prime minister of the minister of foreign affairs was ever contacted. No weapons were found on either the aircraft nor on the hijacker.
, then in Yugoslavia
and now in Bosnia and Herzegovina
, he was a student and journalist while living in his home country. He moved to Norway on 11 July 1993, after having been granted a residential permit. After having lived in a refuge reception center in Alstahaug
, he moved into his own home. He was a volunteer journalist for Landsforeningen Bosnia Hercegovina and had written several articles. Until the incident he had a clean criminal record. People who knew him described him as "sympathetic" and "resourceful", and doubted that he intended to harm anyone. A municipal immigrant consultant stated that he was "a person with initiative" who sought to get to know Norwegians and find work.
Keč was charged with three criminal offenses: the hijacking itself, and fraud and forgery related to attempting to take out 50,000 Norwegian krone
from a friends bank account. He had confessed the crime and several witnesses could confirm he had committed the crime. The incident was the second court case in Norway regarding hijacking, after Braathens SAFE Flight 139
had been hijacked by a drunk in 1985. The law permitted a sentence from 2 to 21 years prison. On 16 June 1995, Keč was sentenced to four years prison by Eidsivating Court of Appeal
. After receiving the sentence, he stated to the press: "I regret hijacking the aircraft. I have apologized to the victims. Hijacking an aircraft was a completely wrong way to create attention for the situation in Bosnia."
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...
shortly after take-off. The flight, from Bardufoss Airport
Bardufoss Airport
Bardufoss Airport is situated at Bardufoss in the municipality of Målselv in Troms, North Norway. The airport is primarily military, but also serves a few civilian flights...
via Bodø Airport
Bodø Airport
Bodø Airport is civil airport in Bodø, Norway. Located just south of the city centre, on the westernmost tip of the peninsula Bodø lies on, it shares facilities with the military air force base Bodø Main Air Station. The airport has a single concrete, runway which runs in a roughly east-west...
to Oslo Airport, Fornebu
Oslo Airport, Fornebu
Oslo Airport, Fornebu was the main airport serving Oslo and Eastern Norway from 1 June 1939 to 7 October 1998. It was then replaced by Oslo Airport, Gardermoen and the area has since been redeveloped. The airport was located at Fornebu in Bærum, from the city center. Fornebu had two runways, one...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, was operated by a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 belonging to Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines System
Scandinavian Airlines or SAS, previously Scandinavian Airlines System, is the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia....
(SAS). The hijacker was Haris Keč, a Bosnian living in Norway, who made demands that Norwegian authorities help to stop the humanitarian suffering in his home country caused by the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
. No-one was injured in the incident.
Keč hijacked the aircraft with 122 passengers and a crew of 6 in mid-air after leaving Bardufoss. The aircraft landed as scheduled at Bodø, where all women, children and seniors were let off, along with two of the cabin crew
Cabin Crew
Cabin Crew are a dance music duo from Sydney, Australia, that consists of Ben Garden and Rob Kittler.-Career:...
. The aircraft then departed Bodø with 77 passengers and a crew of 4. It was diverted to Gardermoen, where Keč made his demands. He surrendered at about 21:00, seven hours after take-off from Bardufoss, after some of his demands had been met. He was sentenced to four years prison for the incident.
Hijacking
SAS Flight 347 was a scheduled, domestic flight from Bardufoss Airport via Bodø Airport to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. Check-in and boarding ran as normal, without any security check. At BardufossBardufoss
Bardufoss is a small village in the municipality of Målselv in Troms county, Norway. The population was 2,580. Bardufoss is located in the Målselvdalen valley near the confluence of the Barduelva and Målselva rivers. It is located about north of the city of Narvik and about south of the city...
, 122 people boarded the aircraft, including a large group of soldiers who were on leave of absence and on their way home to Southern Norway. Representatives from the ground handlers stated that none of the passengers acted suspiciously.
During the first leg of the flight, at about 15:00, Keč, wearing a winter coat, got up from his seat and walked to the front of the aircraft. A flight attendant stopped him. After talking for a short while, and another flight attendant came by, he was let into the cockpit. No information about the hijacking was given to the passengers until arrival at Bodø. Bodø Airport was evacuated and the aircraft parked at Bodø Main Air Station
Bodø Main Air Station
Bodø Main Air Station Bodø Main Air Station Bodø Main Air Station (Norwegian: Bodø hovedflystasjon is situated just outside Bodø, Norway and is the largest air station in Norway, operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The air station is home to the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons of...
, the military section. After landing, by order of the hijacker, the passengers were informed that all women, children under 18 and people over 60 were to leave the aircraft. After this had happened, there were 77 passengers and four crew members left. The aircraft departed Bodø at about 16:00 and headed for Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, which was closed for all other traffic.
After the aircraft had landed at Gardermoen at 17:20, contact was established between Keč and the police negotiator Morten, who also had been the prime negotiator during Aeroflot Flight 137, a hijacking that also had taken place at the airport. Keč predominantly spoke English and insisted that he simply be referred to as "the Bosnian". He immediately informed that he had not hurt any of the crew or passengers, and that he was not affiliated with anyone. His immediate demands were that official representatives were to tell the world what needed to be done to solve the conflict in Bosnia. He then gave a presentation of the situation and that his only intentions were to help his countrymen. For several minutes, the conversion was about the lack of help Keč felt was being given to his home country.
Eventually Morten requested that a helicopter with medical supplies be moved next to the aircraft, for which Keč granted permission. Contact between the pair was lost and Morten had to call Keč six times before getting a response. After 15 minutes, Keč again resumed communication. He demanded that he talk to someone from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the foreign ministry of the Kingdom of Norway...
, and said he wanted media coverage of the incident. "I do not need publicity myself," he said. "I only need to arrange a press conference for the whole world community and the media, and that someone from the Norwegian government promises me and the world community that they will ensure that the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
attempts to open all corridors in Bosnia to feed people in Bosnia so they can survive the winter." Keč indicated that if this did not lead to anything, he would go to the UN himself and that his friends would support him. He gave the authorities one hour to meet his demands before he would fly to another destination.
Aviation fuel
Aviation fuel is a specialized type of petroleum-based fuel used to power aircraft. It is generally of a higher quality than fuels used in less critical applications, such as heating or road transport, and often contains additives to reduce the risk of icing or explosion due to high temperatures,...
and food for two to three days for 80 people. Three minutes later, Morten informed Keč that the chief of police had held a press conference where Keč's demands and goals had been presented and that it had been followed by all major Norwegian newspapers and television channels. Keč responded that he did not need the chief of police, but someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian Social democratic politician, diplomat, and physician, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway , and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization...
, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bjørn Tore Godal
Bjørn Tore Godal
Bjørn Tore Godal is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs 1991-1994, as well as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs 1993-1994. He was then Minister of Foreign Affairs 1994-1996 and 1996-1997, and Minister of Defense 2000-2001 in the first cabinet Stoltenberg...
or the Norwegian Ambassador to the United Nations. Morten stated that it was not possible to get the prime minister to the airport in just five minutes. Keč responded that if this did not happen within reasonable time, he would fly to another country.
At 20:04 stated that he did not believe in Thorvald Stoltenberg
Thorvald Stoltenberg
Thorvald Stoltenberg is a former Norwegian politician. His ancestors stem from Northern Germany and emigrated to Norway in the 17th century. He served as Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs in two Labour governments.From 1989 to 1990 he was appointed Norwegian Ambassador to the UN...
, the minister of foreign affairs, the prime minister or any UN ambassador. Six minutes later, he demanded 25 tonnes (24.6 LT) of medicines for Bosnia. After a positive response from Morten, Keč stated that he needed to make Bosnia's situation known in the media. He then demanded that Godal make a speech from the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. Later it was confirmed that requested medicines would be sent by air to Bosnia the following day.
Morten then stated that they did not feel that Keč was doing things the right way. If he chose to fly to a new airport, negotiations would have to start again, perhaps in a different language. Morten urged Keč to calm down and that they wanted to solve the situation just as much as him. Keč responded by pleading for help for Bosnia. At 20:50, Keč stated "I wish to release everyone and myself. Both Bosnians and Norwegians will understand this". After confirming his surrender would occur at 21:00, Keč stated that he was "cold and calm" and that he intended to surrender without any trouble. Directed by the negotiation, Keč went to the door, opened it and was arrested.
According to the police, the passengers behaved very calmly, given the circumstances. Keč allowed several of the passengers to use their mobile telephones, allowing one of them to communicate with the police and keep Sheriff Jan Bergen updated on the situation. Anti-terror police had been called to the scene, and there were plans to storm the aircraft if the situation escalated. After the incident, the police refused to say if they would have stormed the aircraft if Keč followed through his threats to depart to another airport. During the last stages of the incident, another aircraft was parked beside the MD-82, which the police confirmed played a role towards the end of the hijacking. All communication towards the central government was made to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice, and neither the prime minister of the minister of foreign affairs was ever contacted. No weapons were found on either the aircraft nor on the hijacker.
Aftermath
Haris Keč was at the time of the incident 25 years old. Born in SarajevoSarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, then in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and now in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, he was a student and journalist while living in his home country. He moved to Norway on 11 July 1993, after having been granted a residential permit. After having lived in a refuge reception center in Alstahaug
Alstahaug
Alstahaug is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandnessjøen....
, he moved into his own home. He was a volunteer journalist for Landsforeningen Bosnia Hercegovina and had written several articles. Until the incident he had a clean criminal record. People who knew him described him as "sympathetic" and "resourceful", and doubted that he intended to harm anyone. A municipal immigrant consultant stated that he was "a person with initiative" who sought to get to know Norwegians and find work.
Keč was charged with three criminal offenses: the hijacking itself, and fraud and forgery related to attempting to take out 50,000 Norwegian krone
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
from a friends bank account. He had confessed the crime and several witnesses could confirm he had committed the crime. The incident was the second court case in Norway regarding hijacking, after Braathens SAFE Flight 139
Braathens SAFE Flight 139
Braathen SAFE Flight 139 was an aircraft hijacking that occurred in Norway on 21 June 1985. The incident took place on a Boeing 737-205 belonging to Braathens SAFE that was on a scheduled flight from Trondheim Airport, Værnes to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. The hijacker was Stein Arvid Huseby, who was...
had been hijacked by a drunk in 1985. The law permitted a sentence from 2 to 21 years prison. On 16 June 1995, Keč was sentenced to four years prison by Eidsivating Court of Appeal
Borgarting Court of Appeal
Borgarting Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Oslo, Norway. It serves the counties of Oslo, Buskerud, Østfold and southern Akershus. The court has 62 judges and 45 administrative staff...
. After receiving the sentence, he stated to the press: "I regret hijacking the aircraft. I have apologized to the victims. Hijacking an aircraft was a completely wrong way to create attention for the situation in Bosnia."
See also
- List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft
- 1994 in aviation1994 in aviationThis is a list of aviation-related events from 1994:-March:* March 23 – Aeroflot Flight 593, an Airbus A310-304, is flying with unauthorized people – the pilots 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter – in the cockpit when the 16-year-old unintentionally disengages the autopilot...