The Attack on the King of Morocco’s Aircraft — 1972 (Part 8)
By: Amazigh Information Center (AIC) Editorial Team
The Attack on the Plane of the King of Morocco — 1972 (Part 8)
Rabat-Salé Airport (RBA / GMME), where the royal aircraft made an emergency landing in 1972. Source: Javier Ortega Figueiral.
By the editorial team of the Amazigh Information Center (AIC)
On July 10, 1971, Morocco witnessed a failed coup d’état, staged by army officers during a festive gathering at the Skhirat Palace. Barely a year later, on August 16, 1972, a second attempt to seize power unfolded. This time, Royal Air Force officers targeted the aircraft carrying King Hassan II, opening fire on the royal plane while it was en route back from France in an effort to assassinate the monarch.
In this series of short articles, the Amazigh Information Center reconstructs these historic events. The narrative draws on eyewitness accounts — including that of fighter pilot Salah Hachad — as well as critical works by authors such as Gilles Perrault and journalist Stephen Smith, alongside contemporaneous reports from various newspapers.
On 16 August 1972, the royal aircraft made an emergency landing at Rabat-Salé Airport during the attempted coup. Source: Patrice Habans/Paris Match via Getty Images.
Emergency Landing at Rabat-Salé Airport
The captain of the Boeing managed to bring the aircraft down at Rabat-Salé Airport. During the landing, a wheel locked up, causing the plane to veer off the runway. The King and the other 60 passengers quickly evacuated the aircraft, which could have exploded at any moment.
Passengers disembark from the damaged aircraft after the emergency landing at Rabat-Salé Airport. Source: Paris Match.
Operation Pink
General Mohamed Oufkir was waiting at Rabat-Salé Airport, accompanied by other ministers, to welcome the King. Moments before the Boeing’s arrival, Oufkir left the group and headed to the airport’s control tower. As Hassan II entered the VIP lounge, three F-5 fighter jets roared over the airport. They were conducting Operation Pink — a reconnaissance mission ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Mohamed Amekrane, who was coordinating the attack from the control tower at Kenitra Air Base.
Operation Red Flight
The King left the airport immediately, his destination unknown. However, the royal motorcade — with empty vehicles and drivers serving as decoys — was sent out to mislead potential attackers.
Lieutenant Colonel Amekrane then launched Operation Red Flight: Lieutenants Ziad and Boukhalif attacked Rabat-Salé Airport with machine-gun fire. The assault caused significant damage to buildings and vehicles, leaving eight people dead and around fifty injured, including several ministers.
Rabat-Salé Airport after the air raid during the 1972 coup attempt, showing visible damage. Source: farmaroc.com.
Operation Red Lightning and the Escape to Gibraltar
As a final measure, Amekrane initiated Operation Red Lightning: six F-5 jets attacked the Royal Palace in Rabat. The intended target, King Hassan II, was not present at the time.
Suspecting that his superior — and alleged co-conspirator — General Mohamed Oufkir would not go to the full extent to overthrow the King, Amekrane decided to flee. Together with Lieutenant El-Midaoui, he left Kenitra aboard a helicopter bound for the British colony of Gibraltar, where they intended to seek political asylum. At the time, no extradition treaty existed between Morocco and the United Kingdom.
To be continued.
***Originally written in Dutch — translated and edited with the assistance of ChatGPT***
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