35 years ago, Brazil almost witnessed its own September 11th, when a plane commercial of the extinct airline Vasp was kidnapped with the intention of attacking the Palácio do Planalto and assassinating the then President of the Republic, José Sarney.
The episode that could have been a national tragedy was avoided thanks to the heroic and daring action of a commander. This year, this incredible story will be immortalized on the big screen with the release of a film.
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On September 29, 1988, a man named Raimundo Nonato Alves, driven by revolt against the government, decided to transform a Vasp flight into a nightmare.
He hijacked Flight 375, commanded by Fernando Murilo de Lima e Silva, with the aim of crashing the plane into the Palácio do Planalto and assassinating President José Sarney.
Raimundo, unemployed at the time, blamed the Chief Executive for his problems. Armed with a 32-caliber revolver, the man invaded the cockpit after shooting a flight attendant.
At that time, the cockpit was not armored, as it is today. However, Commander Fernando managed to activate the “kidnapping” code on the panel, alerting the authorities about the situation.
While the kidnapping was in progress, the Brazilian air force (FAB) immediately mobilized aircraft to accompany the flight. President Sarney canceled his entire agenda for the day and the media was on alert.
Pilot Fernando Murilo de Lima e Silva, under constant threat from the hijacker, managed to convince him to change the plane's route, preventing them from being shot down. The aircraft finally landed in Goiânia, after several route changes decided by the hijacker.
However, the situation was far from resolved. Due to the lack of fuel and growing threats, Fernando Murilo de Lima e Silva made a courageous and audacious decision.
He performed maneuvers typical of military fighters, including a tonneau (complete turn around the axis of the aircraft) and a screw (vertical descending trajectory in a spiral), something unprecedented in a Boeing 737-317.
These maneuvers unbalanced the hijacker and, as the plane was close to Goiânia airport, the pilot managed to make a miraculous landing.
After more than three hours of tension, Raimundo was injured and detained, but survived. Commander Fernando Murilo de Lima e Silva received merit medals for his courage, although he reported that he never received a thank you from President Sarney.
This almost tragic episode in Brazilian aviation occurred years before the events of September 11, 2001 in the United States.
According to experts, if US aviation professionals had paid more attention to what happened in Brazil, the events in the US could have been avoided. Because they resulted in significant changes in the security global airline.
The incredible story of this hijacking will reach the cinema with the release of the film “The Hijacking of Flight 375” in December this year.
Directed by Marcus Baldini, the film narrates the events faithfully to reality, but with the dramatic intensity necessary to engage the audience. Watch the trailer below:
This extraordinary story, full of courage and twists, is a reminder of how one act of bravery can change the course of history.
The film promises to offer viewers a breathtaking experience and pays homage to those who faced terror in the skies of Brazil 35 years ago.
