On December 3, 1971, Jean Kay carrying bomb in his bag and revolver in his hand got into the cockpit of a Boeing 720 airplane of PIA standing at Orly airport in Paris, France and demanded 20 tons of medical supplies and relief goods for the refugees of Bangladesh liberation war. This 28-year-old brave French youth kept the plane standing on the runway supporting the freedom war of Bangladesh. His only demand was that some medical supplies would have to be sent by this plane in aid of the people who are fighting for independence in East Pakistan, especially for the refugees who had taken shelter in India. This outstanding incident was broadcast live on television and amazed the whole world being published in the newspapers the next day.
At 11.50 hours in the morning, he went into the cockpit of PIA’s Boeing and held a 9mm pistol demanding that medical supplies would have to be sent for the help of the refugees. He had a box in his hand; he said it was a bomb. If help was not sent, he would destroy the plane by exploding the bomb. Passengers, majority of which were Pakistani, were trembling with fear. In the meantime, everything was showing “Live” on TV. During that time, the then chancellor of West Germany, Willy Brandt, went to France on a tour. The purpose of this tour was to hold a senior level meeting with French President Pompidou on various bilateral issues. But the tour failed due to this incident.
The French authorities had discussion with Jean Kay. He said that he had no personal gain here. He only wanted the French government to help by providing medical supplies to Bangladesh where liberation war was going on. And goods were sent to Bangladesh by this plane of PIA.
French government did not accept Jean Kay’s demand easily. French army overran the Orly airport with commando team. But at one stage at 5:15 pm, the government accepted his demand. With the help of French Red Cross and an aid agency, one tonne of medicines was collected quickly and was brought to the Orly airport. In the end, one tonne of medicines was loaded in that plane of PIA and promised to send the rest of the medicines without any delay. At the time of loading medicines on the plane, four policemen in disguise of mechanic and driver boarded into the plane and attacked Jean Key in the cockpit and arrested him. Through a charitable organization named Ordre de Malte, those medical supplies were delivered to Bangladesh. Jean Key did not have any bomb.
The box he had on his hand had some electric wires, books, one copy of the Bible and an electric shaver. Still, he was put on trial in court for the crime of plane hijacking and he was sentenced five years in imprisonment. But he was released in 1973.
Jean Kay was born on January 5, 1943 and breathed his last on December 12, 2012. Like Jean Kay, many people stood by the side of those freedom loving Bangladeshis in 1971. With his love and affection for the Bangladeshi people, he has become a part of the history.
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