Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul Flight 302
| Industry | Airline |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Brazil |
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul Flight 302 (IATA code: SC302) was a domestic scheduled service operated by Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, flying between Rio de Janeiro and Manaus, Brazil. On February 3, 1984, the Airbus A300B4 aircraft was hijacked while flying from São Luís to Belém and was subsequently redirected to Cuba. Fortunately, all 176 individuals on board, including passengers and crew, survived without injury.
Hijacking
Carrying 14 crew members and 162 passengers, the flight departed from Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport at 22:38 local time, with an expected arrival in Belém about two hours later. During the journey, hijackers gained access to the cockpit and initially demanded a landing in Cayenne, but the pilots explained that the runway length there was insufficient for their aircraft. The hijackers then insisted on diverting to Paramaribo. The captain observed that the hijackers appeared nervous; one of them reportedly declared, "if this fails, we're prepared to die." According to a passenger who volunteered as a medical professional, most travelers were unaware of the situation unfolding; he saw two armed men and a woman holding a distressed child.
Upon arrival in Paramaribo, local authorities engaged in negotiations resulting in the release of 154 passengers in exchange for refueling. The airline facilitated onward transportation for these individuals to their intended destinations in Belém and Manaus.
The plane resumed its flight around 3:30 local time toward Cuba, touching down at Camagüey International Airport at 7:46. Following diplomatic discussions conducted through the Swiss Embassy, Cuban officials authorized the aircraft and crew to return safely to Brazil.