Security tightened at Johannesburg airport after 'jumbo-jacking'

Airline Industry Information, Sept 22, 2004

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Authorities at Johannesburg International Airport in South Africa have announced that they have tightened security after a string of attacks including an attempted 'jumbo-jacking'.

A KLM aircraft was robbed at gunpoint on 16 September 2004 as it was unloading valuables including diamonds and gold and the incident ended in a gun battle that closed the airport. A police spokesperson said that stringent security measures had now been introduced to protect passengers and cargo at the airport.

As part of the new measures members of the National Intervention Unit and Area Crime Combating Unit will escort valuable cargo to and from aircraft and police will increase patrols around the airport, reports Reuters.

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