Franklin Graham nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse reports plane hijacked over Africa

A Samaritan’s Purse plane carrying a load of medicine was hijacked over Africa, according to a statement released by the North Carolina-based nonprofit.

It happened Tuesday, Dec. 2, and ended with an armed suspect being taken into custody, officials said.

Samaritan’s Purse is an international humanitarian aid agency headed by Franklin Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, who founded the operation.

“A Samaritan’s Purse plane, which is based and operating only within Africa, was involved ... with a pilot and one staff member on board,” Samaritan’s Purse reports.

“The Caravan aircraft was en route to Maiwut, South Sudan, to deliver medicines to be used by our mobile medical unit based there. The pilot was eventually able to land the plane in Wau, South Sudan, where the armed hijacker was taken into custody by the National Security Service of South Sudan.”

Investigators did not release details of how the suspect got aboard the plane.

Wau is about 411 miles southwest of the crew’s intended destination in Maiwut, maps show.

“We praise God that no one was seriously injured, and we are grateful to the security forces for their support and swift action on the ground to resolve the situation and bring a safe outcome,” agency officials said in the news release.

Samaritan’s Purse is based in Boone, about a 120-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte. The agency sends teams to help people “in crisis areas of the world.”

This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 7:15 AM with the headline "Franklin Graham nonprofit Samaritan’s Purse reports plane hijacked over Africa."