Destroying the terrorists? In the sort? The plane?

On May 8, 1972, the Sabena airline’s Boeing 707 was captured by four terrorists and landed in Tel Aviv. The kidnappers demanded the release of more than 300 Palestinians in Israeli prisons, promising otherwise to begin killing the passengers of the plane.

The attack was to be carried out by Sayeret Matkal, the famous special forces of the General Staff of the Israeli Defense Army, which at that time is still considered one of the most experienced and trained in the world. Nevertheless, the task facing the special forces was not trivial - in 1972 no unit could boast of the successful release of hostages from a passenger plane.

Preparations for the assault began almost immediately after landing. The special forces secretly installed listening devices on the plane, and also disabled the hydraulics and dropped the tires, adjusting the failure of the aircraft. At the other end of the airfield in the hangar put a similar "Boeing-707", in the cabin of which the capture groups began to work out the upcoming assault. One day later, the training was completed and the captured aircraft under the guise of aircraft technicians was advanced 16 fighters "Sayeret Matakal", who secretly carried weapons and special equipment.

Special forces dispersed under the plane and began to knock on the fuselage, imitating repairs. In fact, at this time, the folding stairs were assembled, along which three groups entered the Boeing from different directions. The entire assault took only 90 seconds and was performed almost perfectly - only one of the hostages died, and two women-terrorists special forces were able to capture alive. The terrorist leader was so frightened that he tried to escape in the toilet. There, in the sort of “Boeing”, he was soaked by operatives.

Operation Isotope, among other things, is interesting and the composition of the participants. The commander of the unit that stormed the Boeing was Captain Ehud Barak, the Prime Minister of Israel in 1999-2001. During a shooting in the cabin, the young lieutenant Benjamin Netanyahu, who is head of Israel right now, was wounded. So if someone tells you that the special forces are just a gathering of pumped men with weapons – give him this example.