2025 Samaritan's Purse Cessna 208 hijacking
On December 2, 2025, a Samaritan’s Purse Cessna 208B Grand Caravan flying from Juba to Maiwut was hijacked by an armed man. The hijacker demanded to fly to Chad but was convinced to let the pilot refuel. The plane made an emergency diversion to Wau Airport.
Background
Samaritan's Purse is an evangelical Christian humanitarian aid organization that provides aid to people in physical need as a key part of its Christian missionary work.
Hijacking
The plane, carrying medical supplies, took off from Juba International Airport en route to Maiwut. An armed man, initially identified as Abyei native Yasir Mohammad Yusuf, wearing a fake reflective vest with the logo of an air charter company with operations at the airport, snuck aboard the plane and hid in the rear cabin before takeoff. He demanded to be flown to another Central African country, Chad. After circling for several hours, the pilot told the man the plane was low on fuel and landed at Wau Airport, where the hijacker was taken into custody. According to a Samaritan's Purse representative, no one was seriously injured in the hijacking. The motive for the hijacking is unknown.
Investigation
The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that an investigation was underway to work out the hijacker's motive. They also confirmed that the aircraft had landed safely.