Pilot hailed a hero over hijacking dies aged 95

A French pilot who is remembered as a hero for his actions in the 1976 hijacking of an Air France plane to Uganda’s Entebbe airport has died aged 95.

Michel Bacos was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest decoration, for refusing to leave the passengers after the plane was hijacked and grounded.

Some 110 hostages were held in the airport terminal for nearly a week by seven pro-palestinian hijackers before Israeli commandos freed them.

Nice mayor Christian Estrosi said Mr Bacos died in the southern French city.

“By refusing with bravery to quit in the face of antisemitism and barbary, he honoured France,” Mr Estrosi said.

Four hostages were killed along with the terrorists.

The Tel Aviv-paris flight was hijacked on 27 June, 1976 by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and a German radical group.

Mr Bacos remained with the hostages despite offers to release him.