Armed with a weapon, Jabri managed to seize control of the Boeing 707 after takeoff. His initial plan was to reroute the aircraft to a European country where he could request political asylum. However, Jabri’s ambitions were soon thwarted by a critical and unforeseen obstacle: the plane’s limited fuel capacity. Realizing that he lacked the fuel to reach Europe, Jabri had to consider alternative options, leading him to request permission to land in various countries in the region.
A Desperate Search for a Safe Haven
Jabri first requested to land in Saudi Arabia, specifically at Dhahran Airport. However, his request was promptly denied by Saudi authorities, who did not want to involve themselves in the situation. This refusal put the hijacker and the plane’s passengers in an increasingly precarious position as the fuel gauge continued to drop.