Ethiopian Airlines hijacking leads to fatal crash in Indian Ocean

On November 23, 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, a Boeing 767-200ER, was hijacked shortly after departing Addis Ababa. Three men, identifying themselves as government opponents, stormed the cockpit using fire extinguishers and a suspected bomb to threaten the crew.

The hijackers demanded that Captain Leul Abate divert the aircraft to Australia. Despite the captain's warnings that the plane lacked sufficient fuel for such a long journey and his suggestions to land along the East African coast to refuel, the hijackers insisted on flying toward the Indian Ocean.

In an attempt to reach safety, Captain Abate secretly navigated the plane toward the Comoros islands. However, the aircraft ran out of fuel, causing both engines to fail. The plane entered a glide toward Grand Comore, but due to the hijackers' interference in the cockpit and insufficient altitude, the aircraft crashed into the sea, resulting in the deaths of 125 people.