FRANCE-ALGERIA-HIJACKING-GIA

The Airbus A300 of Air France flight 8969 from Algiers to Paris, hijacked in Algiers by an Armed Islamic Group (GIA) commando, is parked on the runway on December 25, 1994 in Algiers as airport employees (R) approach the aircraft to replenish food supplies and take away rubbish. On December 24, 1994, an Armed Islamic Group (GIA) commando took the passengers of the Airbus A300 of Air France flight 8969 from Algiers to Paris hostages at Algiers - Houari-Boumédiène airport, before taking off for Paris with the presumed aim of crashing the plane into the Eiffel Tower or the Montparnasse Tower. During a refueling stop at Marseille-Provence airport, the French elite troops of the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) staged a spectacular assault and ended the three-day hijacking, killing the four Algerian Islamist hostage-takers. Three passengers were executed by the hostage-takers, 16 civilians were injured during the assault, as well as nine members of the GIGN. (Photo by Hocine ZAOURAR / AFP via Getty Images)