02/12/2025
UPDATE: Civil Aviation Authority confirms plane forced to divert to Wau
The Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that a Samaritan’s Purse aircraft en route to Maiwut was hijacked midair today by an armed South Sudanese man who forced the pilot to divert the flight toward Chad.
According to sources at Wau Airport, the pilot circled in the air for nearly an hour while trying to convince the hijacker that the plane did not have enough fuel to reach Chad. The man eventually allowed the pilot to land in Wau for refueling.
Once on the ground, security personnel apprehended the suspect without incident. The pilot and two passengers later returned safely to Juba with the aircraft.
The humanitarian plane, operated by American Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse, had been carrying supplies to Maiwut.
It remains unclear how the suspect accessed the aircraft, though early indications suggest he may have hidden in the cargo area before takeoff in Juba. Authorities are now investigating his motive.
