South Sudan domestic flight diverted to Wau after alleged hijack attempt – sources

JUBA – A domestic passenger aircraft in South Sudan was diverted to the western city of Wau on Tuesday and landed safely without injuries, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority said, as security sources told Sudans Post the diversion followed an attempted hijacking linked to a plan to force the aircraft to fly to Chad.

The aviation authority said only that the aircraft operating a domestic flight was diverted earlier in the day and that the situation was swiftly contained through coordinated efforts by the flight crew, local airport authorities and security agencies.

“The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) confirms that an aircraft operating a domestic flight earlier today was diverted to Wau, where it landed safely without any reported injuries to passengers or crew,” the authority said.

“Upon landing, the situation was immediately contained through coordinated efforts between the flight crew, local airport authorities, and security agencies, at this stage details surrounding the incident remain under investigation,” it added.

However, two security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Sudans Post that the diversion followed an attempted hijacking, in which individuals onboard allegedly tried to force the plane to change course toward Chad before the crew regained control.

The aviation authority did not comment on the hijack claim but said security and aviation bodies were conducting a joint assessment to establish the facts and determine whether any follow-up action was required.

“Relevant security and aviation authorities are currently conducting a joint assessment to establish the facts and determine any necessary follow-up actions,” the authority said.

“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and more confirmed details become available,” it added.

The authority also urged the public and media to avoid speculation and rely only on information released through official channels, pledging to issue further updates as investigations continue.

Attempted aircraft hijackings are extremely rare in South Sudan, where aviation incidents have historically been linked more to infrastructure, weather and aircraft maintenance challenges than to deliberate onboard security threats.

The rarity of such incidents makes Tuesday’s allegations particularly serious, as domestic flights in the country typically operate with minimal in-flight security compared with regional and international routes.