The 1,088 Passenger Busiest Flight Ever

Summary

In 1991, amidst a civil war in Ethiopia, Israel launched Operation Solomon to airlift 14,500 Ethiopian Jews to safety. With the Ethiopian government's fall, Israel needed approval to evacuate the Jews, which was finally granted after U.S. intervention. Using 35 planes, including a Boeing 747, they set a world record for the most passengers on a single flight—1,088 people. Despite the difficult journey, the operation succeeded in under 36 hours, showcasing a remarkable feat of human endurance and logistical planning. The rescue took place on the Sabbath, saving lives under a special religious exception.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script begins with a light-hearted comparison between airplanes and trucks, leading into the topic of Ethiopian Jews' exodus in 1991.
• 😀 The Ethiopian government, led by Mengistu Haile Mariam, was collapsing due to a civil war, exacerbating the difficult situation for the country’s population, including Ethiopian Jews.
• 😀 Israel became concerned about the well-being of Ethiopian Jews and began planning a secret operation to evacuate them.
• 😀 Previous airlifts like Operation Moses (1984) and Operation Joshua (1985) had already helped Ethiopian Jews, but had been stopped in 1986 due to international political tensions.
• 😀 Operation Solomon, launched in 1991, aimed to airlift 14,500 Ethiopian Jews to Israel, using airplanes to avoid detection.
• 😀 The Ethiopian Jews traveled over 400 miles to Addis Ababa, mainly by buses and trucks, where they would board flights to Israel.
• 😀 The U.S. played a pivotal role in securing approval from the Ethiopian government to allow the Jewish exodus after the President fled the country.
• 😀 On May 24, 1991, the exodus began, and all 14,500 Ethiopian Jews were transported from Addis Ababa to Israel in under 36 hours using 35 planes.
• 😀 The world record for the most passengers on a single plane was set during the operation, with an El Al Boeing 747 carrying up to 1,088 passengers.
• 😀 Despite being malnourished and cramped, the Ethiopian Jews successfully arrived in Israel, where a huge celebration followed the historic exodus.
• 😀 The operation took place on the Sabbath, but a religious exemption allowed the Jews to travel as it was deemed a life-saving action.

Q & A

What was the main objective of Operation Solomon?

The main objective of Operation Solomon was to evacuate 14,500 Ethiopian Jews from Ethiopia and bring them to Israel using airplanes, in response to the dangerous political and humanitarian situation in Ethiopia in 1991.

Why was Operation Solomon necessary?

Operation Solomon was necessary because the Ethiopian government, led by Mengistu Haile Mariam, was on the verge of collapse, leading to massive instability. The Ethiopian Jews were at risk, and Israel wanted to ensure their safety by evacuating them.

How did Ethiopian Jews travel from the Gondar region to Addis Ababa?

Ethiopian Jews traveled from the Gondar region to Addis Ababa primarily by buses and trucks, with occasional use of horses or walking. The journey covered about 400 miles (650 kilometers) and took two years to complete.

How did the United States assist in the evacuation of Ethiopian Jews?

The United States played a key role by helping secure approval from the new Ethiopian government after the previous president fled the country. President George HW Bush wrote a letter that facilitated the departure of the Ethiopian Jews.

What made the mass evacuation of Ethiopian Jews challenging?

The mass evacuation was challenging because the Ethiopian Jews had to be secretly transported out of the country without attracting attention. The operation also required securing planes and coordinating logistics for 14,500 people.

What made the El Al Boeing 747 flight unique in terms of passenger numbers?

The El Al Boeing 747 flight was unique because it set the world record for the most passengers on a single plane, with 1,088 people aboard. This was much higher than the typical capacity of a 747, which normally carries about 366 passengers.

How were the Ethiopian Jews able to travel on the Sabbath despite religious restrictions?

The Ethiopian Jews were able to travel on the Sabbath due to an exception in Jewish law that allows for travel when it is necessary to save a life. In this case, the evacuation of 14,500 Ethiopian Jews was deemed a life-saving action.

What was the political situation in Ethiopia leading up to Operation Solomon?

Ethiopia was experiencing a civil war, with the government under Mengistu Haile Mariam facing rebels from Eritrea and Tigray. This situation led to severe instability and famine, causing millions of deaths, which made the evacuation of Ethiopian Jews urgent.

How did the Ethiopian government initially respond to the idea of evacuating Ethiopian Jews?

Initially, the Ethiopian government tried to use the evacuation of Ethiopian Jews as leverage to gain support from the United States. However, after the government fell in 1991, the new leadership allowed the operation to proceed with U.S. diplomatic assistance.

What role did Israel play in Operation Solomon?

Israel played a central role in Operation Solomon by organizing and executing the evacuation. The Israeli military and the airline industry, including El Al and the Israeli Air Force, coordinated to transport the Ethiopian Jews to Israel safely.