Dunsfold 747 in Kuwaiti scheme for hijack drama

Ex-BA ‘Jumbo’ transformed for film role

At Dunsfold Park Surrey during September, former British Airways Boeing 747-436 G-CIVW was used to represent Kuwait Airways 747-269B 9K-ADB for a Middle East film production about the hijacking of ’ADB at Algiers-Houari Boumédiène, Algeria on 5 April 1988.

**It’s hard to believe that the Kuwait Airways finish on Boeing 747-400 G-CIVW, applied for filming at Dunsfold, comprises a vinyl wrap.** ANTONY BEST

The Kuwait Airways livery was applied on both sides of the aeroplane using a vinyl wrap which was due to be removed at the end of filming, while the -400 model’s winglets were removed to better represent a -200 series example. The airliner arrived at Dunsfold from Cardiff on 22 October 2020 as British Airways hurriedly retired its ‘Jumbo’ fleet due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kuwaiti 747 was hijacked by nine terrorists, armed with both guns and hand grenades. The hijacking lasted 16 days, during which the aeroplane flew onwards to several locations. During a four-day stop in Larnaca, Cyprus two passengers were executed. On 13 April, back in Algeria, a deal was agreed, and the masked hijackers left the aircraft to be spirited out of the country in unmarked cars.