1972 Moroccan coup attempt

1972 Moroccan coup d'état attempt

Hassan's damaged Boeing 727 after the 1972 Airmen's coup attempt
Date16 August 1972
Location
Over Tétouan, Morocco
Result Coup attempt fails
Belligerents
Government of Morocco Coup plotters
Commanders and leaders
King Hassan II Mohamed Oufkir †
Mohamed Amekrane 
Casualties and losses
8 killed and 40 wounded

The 1972 Moroccan coup attempt was an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate King Hassan II of Morocco on 16 August 1972. The attempted coup d'état occurred in Morocco when a rebel faction within the Moroccan military attempted to shoot down an aircraft carrying the King of Morocco. The attempt was orchestrated by General Mohamed Oufkir, a close advisor to King Hassan, and Colonel Mohamed Amekrane, commander of the Kenitra Air Base. On August 16, 6 Northrop F-5 jets, acting on General Oufkir's orders, intercepted King Hassan's Boeing 727 as it returned from France. Reportedly, King Hassan grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots, "Stop firing! The tyrant is dead!" Fooled, the rebel pilots broke off their attack, believing that their mission had been accomplished.

Eight passengers on the royal jet were killed and forty injured, but the jet was able to land safely at Rabat–Salé Airport.

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