Samaritan's Purse plane hijacked in South Sudan: Pilot lands safely, gunman arrested

A Christian humanitarian aid organization, Samaritan's Purse Cessna 208B Grand Caravan was hijacked on December 2, 2025, during a medical supply flight from Juba International Airport to Maiwut in South Sudan, marking a dramatic security breach for the North Carolina-based organization.

The armed hijacker, identified as Yasir Mohammed Yusuf from Abyei, snuck aboard wearing a fake reflective vest mimicking a local air charter company before takeoff and hid in the rear cabin.

No one was seriously injured, and the pilot, along with one staff member on board, executed a safe emergency landing at Wau Airport, approximately 400 miles southwest of Juba, where South Sudan's National Security Service took the suspect into custody.

Hijacking details

The plane carried critical medicines for Samaritan's Purse mobile medical unit in Maiwut when Yusuf emerged mid-flight, demanding diversion to Chad, a Central African nation.

After circling for several hours, the pilot convinced the hijacker of low fuel, prompting the landing at Wau where authorities swiftly arrested him.

Samaritan's Purse, headquartered in Boone, North Carolina, praised the pilot's skill and security forces' rapid response in an official statement: "We praise God that no one was seriously injured, and we are grateful to the security forces for their support and swift action".

Organization's operations

Samaritan's Purse operates the Africa-based aircraft exclusively for humanitarian missions, underscoring risks in volatile regions like South Sudan amid ongoing conflicts and instability.

Local police noted the hijacker's method of boarding undetected highlights airport security vulnerabilities at Juba.

This event draws attention to perils faced by aid organizations in South Sudan, where ethnic tensions and border disputes with Sudan complicate operations. Samaritan's Purse has a long history of disaster relief worldwide, but such incidents could impact donor confidence and logistics in high-risk zones.

FAQs

What is Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization. It operates in over 100 countries to provide spiritual and physical aid to victims of war, natural disasters, disease, famine, poverty

What was the hijacker's motive?
Authorities have not disclosed a clear motive for Yasir Mohammed Yusuf; investigations continue as he remains in custody.