A top executive of Air France arrived here last night to personally express the company’s thanks to Israel for rescuing the hijack hostages from Entebbe Airport in Uganda July 3. The hostages included the flight crew of the seized Air France air bus, all of whom returned home unharmed.
Denis deJean, vice-president and European general manager of France’s national air carrier, also told reporters at Ben Gurion Airport that Air France sent a doctor to Kampala to find out what happened to Mrs. Dora Bloch, the only hostage who remains unaccounted for. The British government said yesterday that it believes Mrs. Bloch to be dead. (See separate story P. 1.)
DeJean, who was greeted at the airport by Transport Minister Gad Yaacobi, said, “I have come specially to Israel to express our gratitude to you and the Israel government for the great deed, in rescuing the hostages from Uganda.” Yaacobi asked the airline official to convey Israel’s appreciation to the flight crew for their responsible and courageous behavior throughout the ordeal. DeJean disclosed that the Ugandan authorities have released the hijacked plane and it was currently being inspected at Entebbe.
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