The Netflix series The Hijacking of Flight 601 revolves around the true story of the hijacking of SAM Colombia Flight HK-1274 on May 30th 1973. The air pirates wore masks throughout the 60 hours, which is how long the skyjacking lasted, and they escaped mysteriously after a gentleman’s agreement with the captain to keep the flight attendants safe.
When the air pirates commenced the hijacking, they identified as the members of a guerilla group known as the National Liberation Army. However, the passengers and the crew were suspicious of their connection to the guerilla group based on their accents. After their escape, the two remained a mystery for a while, but their strange accents and vast interest in sports opened a window into their possible identities. Therefore, who are the two mysterious men who held 84 passengers captive and escaped with 50,000 ransom? Where are they now?
Who was Eusebio Borja?
The reports from the eyewitnesses on the plane, including the crew and the passengers, described Eusebio as the taller and more aggressive pirate who seemed to be the leader between the two. He was responsible for threatening the captains, giving orders, and negotiating. He carried a briefcase that had the plan all scripted out, and although the series introduces the possibility of a third accomplice who killed himself, Borja is believed to have been the mastermind.Â
Contrary to the narrative in the Netflix series about Borja learning to read in an orphanage, in real life, he was a trained doctor before becoming a soccer player. Therefore, he was intelligent and well-versed in politics and airfreight navigation.
Massimo’s investigations reveal that Borja was 27 years old at the time of the hijacking and had played for many football clubs without getting signed by any of them. He had travelled from Paraguay to Pereira in hopes of continuing his dream of joining an official soccer team but ended up jobless, which led to his frustration and misery. Hijacking flights was a common crime in Latin America, so Borja decided to take a risk and try to make easy money.
By then, the airport security was so poor that it was easy to bring a gun on board. The reports indicate that the hijackers wanted money to start a business but planned to make history by conducting the longest-running skyjacking.Â
Did he fall in love with Maria Eugenia Gallo?
Per the reports, Borja jumped off the plane in Resistencia and disappeared. In real life, Borja was never arrested and was suspected to have last been seen on Colombian Island a few years later. However, he was never again seen in public, and nobody knows what he looks like.
Consequently, the romantic angle introduced by the Netflix series is purely fictional since there are no reports that Maria met with Borja in Brazil and started a romantic relationship.
What happened to real-life Francisco Lopez, AKA Toro?
According to Massimo’s report, Francisco Lopez, also known as Toro, was a football player from an immigrant family in Paraguay. Unlike Borja, a doctor, Toro had no formal education, and his only way out was through football. He met Borja four years before the kidnapping when they played for the same team. They came to Colombia together and participated in try-outs for various teams, but Toro was not in good form, so he never got a chance to play.
Just like his friend Borja, Toro never lived in an orphanage and never owed money to the orphanage director. The orphanage angle is fictitious in giving a dramatic effect. Those who remember them say that the two lived an extravagant lifestyle despite having no formal employment.Â
After he was dropped at Asuncion, Toro boarded a train and then a bus and arrived at his neighbourhood. He rented an apartment close to his family and started handing out the stolen money to neighbours, friends, family, and relatives, which drew the attention of the Paraguayan police.
Toro was arrested and two years later extradited to Colombia, where he was sentenced to serve five years in prison. By the time of his arrest, Toro had spent 5000 of his share of the money, and the police seized the rest. There are no known reports of what happened to Toro after his release from prison, but rumours indicate that he was killed during a failed bank robbery attempt in Buenos Aires.Â