A missionary pilot serving with the humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse is recounting a dramatic mid-air encounter in which he shared the Gospel with a man who hijacked his plane while flying over South Sudan.
Missionary pilot Jim Streit said the frightening incident occurred during a routine humanitarian flight transporting medical supplies to a remote clinic. During the journey, an armed stowaway suddenly entered the cockpit and pointed a loaded handgun at him.
According to Streit, the man revealed a magazine containing multiple rounds of ammunition and threatened to kill everyone on board the aircraft. Despite the life-threatening situation, the veteran missionary pilot said he sensed a prompting to speak about his faith.
While continuing to fly the aircraft and buying time by circling in the air, Streit began sharing the message of the Gospel with the hijacker. He quoted the well-known Scripture from John 3:16, explaining that God's love and forgiveness are available to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
During the conversation, Streit said the man became emotional and began to open up about his personal pain, sharing that his family had died. The moment shifted the atmosphere inside the cockpit as the hijacker began crying.
Meanwhile, teams connected to Samaritan's Purse were monitoring the situation and praying for the safety of those on board as the plane remained in the air.
Streit was eventually able to land the aircraft safely in the South Sudanese city of Wau, where authorities quickly arrested the hijacker. No passengers or crew members were seriously injured during the ordeal.
After the landing, Streit and another missionary asked if they could pray for the man while he was in custody. With soldiers standing nearby, the missionaries prayed with the suspect, asking that he would come to know Christ.
The remarkable encounter has drawn attention as a powerful example of faith in the midst of danger, highlighting both the risks missionary pilots face while serving remote communities and the opportunities they see to share the message of hope even in the most unexpected moments.
