A humanitarian flight operated by Samaritan’s Purse was hijacked mid-air but landed safely in Wau after South Sudanese security forces arrested the gunman without incident. No injuries were reported.

The Cessna Caravan, carrying a pilot and one staff member, departed Juba bound for Maiwut in Upper Nile State when passenger Yasir Mohammed Yusuf, from the disputed Abyei region, brandished a weapon and demanded the plane divert to Chad.

After circling for several hours during negotiations, the aircraft was permitted to land in Wau for refueling. Security forces stormed the plane upon touchdown and subdued Yusuf without resistance.

Samaritan’s Purse confirmed the crew was unharmed and expressed gratitude to South Sudanese authorities for their swift response. The charity, which operates medical and nutrition programs across conflict zones, emphasized that it will continue its work despite rising risks. Just last month, a partner aircraft crashed in Jonglei State, killing five people.

While hijackings of aid flights remain rare, the incident underscores escalating insecurity in South Sudan, where humanitarian assets are increasingly targeted by armed groups and desperate individuals.