Air France Flight 8969 was a scheduled domestic flight flying from Algiers to Paris and was hijacked on December 26, 1994, by four members of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), a radical Islamist organization in Algeria. The hijackers overpowered the crew and diverted the plane to Marseille, France, taking 173 hostages onboard. The hijacking unfolded against a backdrop of increasing violence and unrest in Algeria, where the GIA had been waging a campaign against the Algerian government since the early 1990s. The motivations of the hijackers were rooted in their political and religious ideologies, aiming to draw attention to their cause and demand the release of their comrades detained in France.

In Marseille, the French authorities, including elite counter-terrorism units, quickly took charge of the crisis. As the aircraft landed, negotiations took place, but the situation remained precarious. The hijackers made various demands, including the release of prisoners and safe passage for themselves. In response, French Gendarmerie launched a tactical assault on the plane. On December 26, after an intense standoff, commandos stormed the aircraft, leading to a fierce confrontation. The assault concluded with the deaths of all four hijackers and the safe rescue of the hostages.

This incident marked a significant event in the context of aviation security and counter-terrorism tactics in France. It exposed vulnerabilities in airport security protocols and was a pivotal moment in the French authorities' approach to dealing with similar threats, influencing future measures taken to safeguard air travel against acts of terrorism.