(WAU, WESTERN BAHR EL GHAZAL STATE) – A small plane carrying medical supplies in South Sudan was hijacked on Tuesday by a gunman demanding to be flown to Chad, police said. The suspect was arrested safely after the aircraft landed in the northern town of Wau. No one was injured, and an investigation is ongoing.
The aircraft, a Cessna Grand Caravan operated by the North Carolina-based aid group Samaritan’s Purse, had departed from Juba in the morning en route to Maiwut County in the far northeast. The flight was carrying medical supplies for communities served by the organisation.
Police reports indicate the hijacker, identified as Yasir Mohammed Yusuf from the Abyei Administrative Area, hid in the rear cabin before takeoff. The motives behind his actions, including the request to fly to Chad, remain unclear. Chad does not share a border with South Sudan but is in the same region.
After several hours of circling, the pilot informed the suspect the plane required refuelling and landed in Wau. The gunman was taken into custody by police, according to Santino Udol Mayen, spokesperson for Western Bahr el Ghazal state police.
Authorities said the suspect was wearing a reflective vest bearing the logo of an air charter company based at Juba International Airport. The company’s managing director, Paul Antrobus, confirmed that the individual was not employed by the firm.
Melissa Strickland, spokesperson for Samaritan’s Purse, said the organisation was grateful to security forces for their swift response and for ensuring a safe outcome for all on board.
The incident comes shortly after a separate crash involving a Samaritan’s Purse-chartered plane on 25 November in Unity State, which killed all three crew members.
The authorities are investigating how the hijacker boarded the flight and are reviewing security measures for humanitarian flights operating in South Sudan. Officials emphasised the importance of maintaining strict safety protocols to protect personnel and critical aid shipments, particularly in remote and vulnerable areas.
South Sudan Aid Plane Hijacking
| Component | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 December 2025 |
| Location | Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State |
| Aircraft | Cessna Grand Caravan |
| Operator | Samaritan’s Purse (North Carolina, USA) |
| Flight Purpose | Transport medical supplies to Maiwut County |
| Hijacker | Yasir Mohammed Yusuf, resident of Abyei Administrative Area |
| Demands | Fly aircraft to Chad |
| Outcome | Hijacker arrested, no injuries, plane landed safely |
| Security Notes | Investigations ongoing; review of humanitarian flight security |
| Previous Incident | 25 November 2025, Unity State plane crash, 3 fatalities |
