El Al Flight 432
4X-ABB, the aircraft involved in the attacking | |
| Terrorist Attack | |
|---|---|
| Date | 18 February 1969 |
| Summary | Terrorist attack |
| Site |
|
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 720-058B |
| Operator | El Al |
| IATA flight No. | LY432 |
| ICAO flight No. | ELY432 |
| Call sign | ELAL 432 |
| Registration | 4X-ABB |
| Flight origin | Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Stopover | Zurich Airport, Zurich, Switzerland |
| Destination | Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Passengers | 17 |
| Crew | 11 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 6 |
| Survivors | 16 |
El Al Flight 432 was a Boeing 720-058B (a shortened Boeing 707-120B) that was attacked by a squad of four armed Palestinian militants, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, while it was preparing for takeoff at the Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland on 18 February 1969. The plane, which was on its way from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv via Zurich, was due to take off at Zurich Airport. Several of the crew members were injured during the attack; one later died of his injuries. The plane was severely damaged. A greater disaster was averted when Mordechai Rahamim, an undercover Israeli security agent stationed on the plane, opened fire at the attackers and killed the terrorist leader. Rahamim and the three surviving attackers were arrested and tried by Swiss authorities. The attackers were found guilty and given prison sentences, while Rahamim was acquitted.