We are extremely privileged to feature Blake Flemington at our May Talk Show.
As a young Captain on a Boeing 727 in SAA, his aircraft was hijacked and eventually landed at Blantyre. This was the only successful hijacking of an SAA flight and took place on 24 May 1972 on route from Salisbury in Rhodesia (now known as Harare, Zimbabwe) to Johannesburg. Two Lebanese, Kamil and Yagi, took control of the aircraft by packing dynamite sticks on the hat racks. They were armed with a pistol. The booby trapped aircraft was peppered by machine gun fire after all passengers and crew had escaped and only the hijackers were still on board. If it were not for the resolute command of Blake Flemington, the entire drama might’ve ended in tragedy if a lesser man was in charge.
This is only one of numerous tales we will explore that this extraordinary man amongst men has to tell. Blake who flew Shackletons in the SAAF became the most effective ever president of the SAA Pilots Association. He now lives in New Zealand and lectures in Air Transport logistics at a university.
Host: Karl Jensen holds this guest in very high regard and is very excited to be interviewing him.
- Date: Thursday 13 May 2010
- Time: 18h30 for 19h30 (time to order your Boerewors/Steak roll & drinks)
- Venue: EAA Auditorium adjacent to TAC and Holding point of Runway 29. Take the Hurricane Road entrance (NOT through the main gate)
- Cost: R30 (R20 for card carrying EAA, Aero Club & SAAMS members)
- Booking: Booking essential! Send an e-mail or simply phone me at the office between 09h00 & 17h00. If you want a specific seat, see seating plan.
Anne-Louise Woods.
EAA Auditorium
Tel. 011 888 8495
email: admin2.woods@icon.co.za
