[KoreaCase] Korean Air Fokker F27 hijacking attempt


 On January 23, 1971, a hijacking incident occurred when a Korean Air Fokker F27, with 55 passengers and 5 crew members aboard, was hijacked while en route from Sokcho to Gimpo. The plane was forced into a crisis when a hijacker, Kim Sang-tae, armed with bombs, took control of the aircraft at an altitude of 10,000 feet over Hongcheon. The hijacker demanded that the pilots turn the aircraft towards North Korea. Despite the dire situation, the quick thinking and courage of the crew members and passengers averted a disaster. This event became a turning point in highlighting the sacrifices made by individuals in times of extreme crisis.

Kim Sang-tae, holding bombs, threatened the pilots to change the plane's course toward North Korea. The pilots pretended to comply with the hijacker’s demands, but in reality, they were waiting for emergency intervention from the South Korean Air Force. Two F-5 fighter jets were dispatched to intercept the aircraft. In the meantime, the cabin crew, including flight attendant Choi Cheon-il and trainee pilot Jeon Myeong-se, cleverly deceived the hijacker by misleading the passengers into believing they had entered North Korean airspace. This distraction allowed the South Korean fighter jets to position themselves in close proximity to the hijacked plane.

When Kim Sang-tae looked out the window and saw the fighter jets, the crew took the opportunity to subdue him. Choi Cheon-il fired at him, but as he collapsed, the bomb he was holding fell to the floor, triggering a detonation. Trainee pilot Jeon Myeong-se threw himself on top of the bomb to shield the others. His heroic sacrifice saved everyone on board, although he suffered fatal injuries in the process.



After the incident, Jeon Myeong-se was posthumously promoted to captain and received the Order of Military Merit. His body was laid to rest at the Seoul National Cemetery, and his actions remain a symbol of courage. This hijacking was not just a crime but a reflection of the tense political climate in South Korea at the time. The decision to resist the hijacker's demands, despite the extreme risks, saved many lives and highlighted the bravery of the individuals involved.

The incident was later used in anti-communist education and was covered in the 2024 film Hijacking, which revived interest in this courageous act.

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