On Tuesday, Dec. 2, a Samaritan’s Purse relief plane was hijacked in South Sudan after an armed man hid onboard the aircraft before takeoff.
Authorities investigating the incident informed the public that no one was injured and arrested the suspect after the pilot safely landed the plane.
According to their mission statement, “Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ.” Samaritan’s Purse says that it “serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Franklin Graham serves as president and CEO of the organization.
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The Cessna Grand Caravan, a single-engine turboprop utility plane owned by Samaritan’s Purse, departed Juba on Tuesday morning and was transporting medical supplies to Maiwut, where the Christian humanitarian organization is providing assistance. Police said the gunman, identified as Yasir Mohammed Yusuf of the Abyei Administrative Area, snuck onto the aircraft and hid in the rear cabin.
During the flight, the suspect took control of the plane and demanded the pilot fly to Chad. His motives remain unclear.
The pilot circled for several hours and informed the hijacker that the aircraft needed to refuel. After landing in the northern town of Wau, the armed hijacker was taken into custody by police.
“A Samaritan’s Purse plane, which is based and operating only within Africa, was involved in a hijacking incident on Tuesday, Dec. 2, with a pilot and one staff member on board,” the organization said in a written statement. “The Caravan aircraft was en route to Maiwut, South Sudan, to deliver medicines to be used by our mobile medical unit based there. The pilot was eventually able to land the plane in Wau, South Sudan, where the armed hijacker was taken into custody by the National Security Service of South Sudan.
“We praise God that no one was seriously injured,” Samaritan’s Purse said, “and we are grateful to the security forces for their support and swift action on the ground to resolve the situation and bring a safe outcome.”
