Braathens SAFE Flight 139

Hijacking

The hijacking occurred on board Braathens SAFE Flight 139 en route from Trondheim Airport, Værnes to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. The aircraft was a Boeing 737-205, named Harald Gille (after Harald IV of Norway) with registration LN-SUG. The day before the hijacking, Huseby graduated from upper secondary school, where he studied health and social work. That evening, he purchased an air gun in Trondheim. The weapon was in his hand luggage when boarding the aircraft at Trondheim Airport, Værnes, where there was no security control. He selected a seat at the rear of the aircraft. While airborne, the hijacker showed a female flight attendant the air gun and asked her to inform the captain that he wanted control over the aircraft, but that otherwise all was to proceed as planned. The flight attendant and later the hijacker used the intercom to communicate with the pilot. The police were informed about the incident via air controllers at 15:05.

The plane landed at Fornebu at 15:30, fifteen minutes after schedule. The aircraft parked at a location 700 m from the terminal. It was immediately surrounded by police special forces, as well as officers from Asker and Bærum Police Department. Two special-trained police officers were placed in the control tower, where they negotiated with Huseby. Fornebu was closed, and air traffic was rerouted to Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. During the whole incident, Huseby repeatedly asked for and drank beer.

Huseby's demands were to talk to Prime Minister Kåre Willoch and Minister of Justice Mona Røkke, both from the Conservative Party. He also wanted to hold a press conference at Fornebu. Huseby was unsatisfied with his treatment after he left prison. He demanded to receive guarantees for better treatment and economic security from the authorities.

A friend of Huseby helped the police in the negotiations.

Aftermath

Stein Arvid Huseby, originally from Karmøy, was at the time 24 years old. He had just finished studying at a Christian upper secondary school in Trondheim. He had previously been sentenced five times for violent offenses, including an armed robbery of a taxi and threatening a lensmann with a shotgun. He was beaten and abused by his father, and started drinking as a 13-year-old. He lost his job as a seaman due to drunkenness, and was put into a psychiatric institution in 1980, aged 19. In 1983, he was admitted to a Christian school, and had managed to stay away from alcohol for two years, but had started again just prior to the incident. He stated that he was afraid to lose his friends due to his misuse of alcohol.[[File:N412CE (6886180276).jpg|thumb|The [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-205]] involved in the hijacking, now degraded at [[Golosón International Airport]]|left]]

During the court case, Huseby stated that he wanted help from society and attention drawn to his cause. However, he stated that he regretted doing this by hijacking. He stated that all he wanted was to send a message to the minister of justice and prime minister that he needed help, and that he did not intend that the other passengers be aware of his threats. Huseby stated that the hijacking was spontaneous and that he planned to make an armed robbery or take hostages at the Radisson SAS hotel in Oslo. The court psychologists stated that Huseby had a difficult childhood, and had been defined as an alcoholic at the age of 17. They considered him to have a very underdeveloped ability to make rational decisions and weak mental health. They also stated that he committed crimes to identify himself due to his low self-esteem. On 29 May 1986, Huseby was found guilty of hijacking in Eidsivating Court of Appeal. He was sentenced to three years in prison and five years of preventive supervision.

References

References

1. (1996). "Braathens SAFE 50 år: Mot alle odds".
2. "21-Jun-1985". [[Flight Safety Foundation]].
3. (23 June 1985). "Den 24 år gamle mannen fra Karmøy som fredag kapret et".
4. (21 June 1985). "Foreløpig samlemelding".
5. (21 June 1985). "- Det var en skremmende opplevelse.".
6. (26 May 1986). "Flykapreren angrer".
7. (30 May 1986). "Tre års fengsel for flykapreren".
8. (30 May 1986). "24åring kjent skyldig som flykaprer: første dom efter ny lov". [[Aftenposten]].