Is Hijack '93 based on a true story? Explained

The suspenseful disaster movie Hijack '93 was released on Netflix on October 25, 2024. Soon after its release, the movie gained significant traction among the audiences, reaching one of the top ten positions in Netflix Nigeria.

Naturally, the movie sparked curiosity among viewers eager to discover whether the events portrayed were real or fictional.

While the actual incidents in Hijack '93 are based on true events, some specific elements have been altered for dramatic purposes. For example, the hijacking incident that forms the core of the movie's storyline is factual, as is the socio-political environment in which it occurs.

On the other hand, certain scenes, such as Ben shooting a civilian on the plane out of anger or a passenger giving birth during the flight, are fictional and did not occur.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Please read at your discretion.

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Netflix's Hijack '93 is based on a true story

Nigeria in the 1980s and 1990s was marked by severe socio-political unrest. After the country's military orchestrated a coup in 1983 to overthrow President Shehu Shagari's government, which the people had chosen, the nation faced significant political unrest. Over the next ten years, military leaders consistently imposed their rule while neglecting the people's wishes.

Things worsened when, in 1993, people eventually voted to bring the Social Democratic Party into power and chose Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO Abiola) as the country's representative. Once again, the authoritative military regime cited issues resulting in their eventual reinstatement as sole possesors of power in the country.

This time, however, the public did not remain silent. The event sparked a variety of responses from citizens who refused to submit to military rule once again. One significant act of resistance against Nigeria's military dictatorship was the hijacking of a Nigerian Airways flight in 1993 by four teenagers, as depicted in Netflix's Hijack '93.

The teenagers entered the flight with only one agenda, which was to reinstate the power of the country back to the Social Democratic Party leader, MKO Abiola, who the people of Nigeria elected. However, as the incidents unfolded on the plane, things did not exactly go as planned, and they ended up being arrested by the end of the mission.

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Which parts of Hijack '93 were fictionalized?

Although Hijack '93 remains true to the original story regarding its core narrative, it deviates in terms of certain specificities, a fact that has already been highlighted before.

For starters, the names of the teenagers who hijacked the plane were altered in the film. Their names weren't Omar, Ben, Kayode, and Dayo, but Richard, Kabir, Benneth, and Kenny.

Additionally, the film specified that the teenagers had sneaked in a gun with them with the help of one of the crew members on the flight. This incident never took place in reality. None of the flight's crew members were allied with the teenagers who hijacked the plane.

Contrary to what was shown in the film, no one gave birth during the hijacking. Likewise, there were no passengers shot by the teenagers who had taken them hostage, as illustrated in the movie. The only individuals who were fired upon were military personnel.

Other elements of the actual story were also altered, such as how the hijackers were apprehended. While the film depicts the teenagers surrendering after the military poisoned one of their key hostages, in reality, the teenagers did not surrender but were taken into custody by officials after they landed.

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Hijack '93 is currently streaming on Netflix.