The Sabena Flight Recordings: Cockpit to Control Tower – IDF Archives
Description
This chilling historical recording captures the raw drama of Sabena Flight 571, one of the defining moments of terrorism in the history of the State of Israel. In this rare footage from the IDF archives, we hear the voice of the aircraft’s captain, British pilot Reginald Levy, as he attempts to navigate with unfathomable composure between the hijackers' demands and the control tower at Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion Airport). The exchange reveals the immense tension that filled the cockpit on May 8, 1972, after four terrorists from the "Black September" organization seized control of the Belgian Boeing 707 en route from Vienna to Israel, threatening to blow it up along with its passengers unless hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were released. Beyond its documentary value, the video offers a glimpse into Israel's early negotiation tactics in the face of global terrorism. During those nerve-wracking hours, while Captain Levy spoke with the control tower, an audacious rescue mission dubbed "Operation Isotope" was already being devised at operational headquarters. The plane sat at the edge of the runway, surrounded by Sayeret Matkal commandos disguised as technicians in white overalls. Levy’s voice—remaining calm even as a hand grenade was held to his neck—became a symbol of resourcefulness and courage under extreme pressure. As etched into the pages of history, the event concluded with a daring breach by the commando unit under the command of Ehud Barak, featuring young officers and soldiers who would later lead the nation, including Benjamin Netanyahu and Danny Yatom. In less than 100 seconds, the fighters managed to overpower the terrorists and free the vast majority of the hostages. This recording is more than just a piece of audio; it is a living testimony to the determined struggle against terror and the moments when an entire nation held its breath by their radios, waiting for a sign of life from the white plane on the tarmac. This video serves as a vital resource for anyone interested in military history, the annals of aviation, and the human stories behind world-renowned operations. It reminds us that beneath the dry news reports lay immense human dramas involving passengers, crew, and soldiers whose actions reshaped Israeli strategy against aircraft hijackings for decades to come.
Original title
הקלטות הקשר המקוריות: קברניט מטוס סבנה ומגדל הפיקוח – ארכיון צה"ל
הקלטה היסטורית ומרטטת זו מביאה את רגעי הדרמה המזוקקים של טיסת "סבנה" 571, שהפכה לאחד מאירועי הטרור המכוננים בתולדות מדינת ישראל. בתיעוד נדיר מתוך ארכיון צה"ל, אנו שומעים את קולו של קברניט המטוס, הבריטי רג'ינלד לוי, כשהוא מנסה לתמרן בקור רוח בלתי נתפס בין דרישות המחבלים לבין מגדל הפיקוח בנמל התעופה לוד (נתב"ג של ימינו). השיחה חושפת את המתח הרב ששרר בתא הטייס ב-8 במאי 1972, כאשר ארבעה מחבלי ארגון "ספטמבר השחור" השתלטו על מטוס הבואינג 707 הבלגי שהיה בדרכו מוינה לישראל, ואיימו לפוצץ אותו על נוסעיו אם לא ישוחררו מאות אסירים פלסטינים. מעבר לערך התיעודי, הסרטון מאפשר הצצה לטקטיקות המשא ומתן המוקדמות של ישראל אל מול הטרור העולמי. באותן שעות מורטות עצבים, בזמן שהקברניט לוי שוחח עם מגדל הפיקוח, במטה המבצעי כבר נרקמה תוכנית החילוץ הנועזת שכונתה "מבצע איזוטופ". המטוס חנה בקצה המסלול, מוקף בלוחמי סיירת מטכ"ל שהסוו את עצמם כטכנאים בבגדים לבנים. קולו של לוי, שנותר רגוע למרות שרימון יד הוצמד לצווארו, הפך לסמל של תושייה ואומץ לב בתנאי לחץ קיצוניים. האירוע הסתיים, כפי שזכור היטב בדפי ההיסטוריה, בפריצה נועזת של כוח הסיירת בפיקודו של אהוד ברק, וביניהם לוחמים וקצינים צעירים שלימים ינהיגו את המדינה, כמו בנימין נתניהו ודני יתום. בתוך פחות מ-100 שניות הצליחו הלוחמים להשתלט על המחבלים ולשחרר את מרבית בני הערובה. הקלטה זו אינה רק פיסת אודיו; היא עדות חיה למאבק הנחוש בטרור ולרגעים שבהם מדינה שלמה עצרה את נשימתה מול מכשירי הרדיו, מחכה לאות חיים מהמטוס הלבן שעל המסלול. סרטון זה מהווה נדבך חשוב לכל מי שמתעניין בהיסטוריה צבאית, בתולדות התעופה ובסיפורים האנושיים שמאחורי המבצעים הגדולים. הוא מזכיר לנו שתחת מעטה הדיווחים היבשים בחדשות, הסתתרו דרמות אנושיות כבירות של נוסעים, אנשי צוות ולוחמים ששינו את פני האסטרטגיה הישראלית אל מול חטיפות מטוסים לעשורים הבאים.
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