Incident Overview
On 25 December 1986, Iraqi Airways Flight 163, a Boeing 737-270C registered YI-AGJ, was operating a scheduled service from Saddam International Airport in Baghdad, Iraq, to Amman, Jordan. The aircraft was hijacked by four men during the flight.
Hijacking and Explosions
Iraqi Airways security personnel aboard the flight attempted to intervene, but a hand grenade was detonated in the passenger cabin. This explosion forced the flight crew to initiate an emergency descent. Subsequently, another hand grenade exploded in the cockpit.
Crash and Aftermath
The cockpit explosion caused the aircraft to crash near Arar, Saudi Arabia. Upon impact, the aircraft broke into two sections and caught fire.