GR 265
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FI MONG KONG 108943Z
RESTRICTED
AKKOS!!
MÅR 1978
NO. 31
SECRET RESTRICTED
INDEX
No
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O TELNO.306 OF 10 MARCH 78,
Action Taken
INFO PRIORITY: PEKING, SEOUL, TOKYO, BANGKOK, SINGAPORE,
MANILA, KUALA LUMPUR, JAKARTA, HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON.
не
NIR
HONG KONG TELNOS.297 AND 298 (NOT TO ALL): HIJACKING OF CHINA AIRLINES AIRCRAFT.
See 11
1. THE FOLLOWING FURTHER DETAILS HAVE NOW BEEN ESTABLISHED.
2. AT ABOUT 1709 WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES
FROM HONG KONG THE CAPTAIN OR FLIGHT OFFICER OF CHINA AIR LINES FLIGHT 831 WAS HEARD CALLING FOR ASSISTANCE. THE CABIN CREW BROKE DOWN THE DOOR TO THE FLIGHT DECK AND FOUND THE FLIGHT OFFICER FIGHTING OFF THE FLIGHT SUPPORT ENGINEER SHIH MING-CHEN (2457/2494/2182) WHO WAS ARMED WITH A HAMMER AND A PAIR OF SCISSORS. BOTH THE CAPTAIN AND FLIGHT OFFICER WERE SUFFERING
FROM SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES BUT MANAGED TO REGAIN FULL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND AFTER REQUESTING STANDBY EMERGENCY SERVICES, LANDED AT KAI TAK AT 1720. ON LANDING SHIH MING-CHEN WAS FOUND TO BE DEAD HAVING BEEN SHOT BY AN ARMED SECURITY GUARD OF THE AIRLINE WHO HAD BEEN TRAVELLING ON THE PLANE IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES.
3. TODAYS LOCAL PAPERS SPECULATE THAT SHIH INTENDED TO DIVERT THE AIRCRAFT TO CHINA. SO FAR THERE IS NO (REPEAT NO) EVIDENCE TO CONFIRM THIS. BECAUSE OF THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION IT HAS NOT YET BEEN POSSIBLE TO QUESTION FULLY THE INJURED CAPTAIN AND FLIGHT OFFICER. PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ARE THAT THEY WERE ATTACKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THAT NO (REPEAT NO) DEMANDS WERE
MADE.
THE AIRCRAFT HAS NOW RETURNED TO TAIWAN,
MACLEHOSE
FILES
PUSD
MAED
NEWS DEPT MR BUTLER
FED
HK & GD
SECRET
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