The 1972 Moroccan coup attempt was an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate King Hassan II of Morocco on 16 August 1972. The attempted coup d'état occurred in Morocco when a rebel faction within the Moroccan military attempted to shoot down an aircraft carrying the King of Morocco, Hassan II. The attempt was orchestrated by General Mohamed Oufkir, a close advisor to King Hassan. He was assisted by Mohamed Amekrane, commander of the Moroccan air force base at Kenitra. The coup and protests aimed at overthrowing the authoritarian monarchy of King Hassan and his Alaouite dynasty in Morocco and forming a democratic republic that represents the Moroccan people instead.[1] On August 16, four Northrop F-5 jets, acting on Oufkir's orders, intercepted King Hassan's Boeing 727 as it returned from France.[2] Reportedly, King Hassan grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots, "Stop firing! The tyrant is dead!" Fooled, the rebel pilots broke off their attack.[3]
| 1972 Moroccan coup d'état attempt | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hassan's damaged Boeing 727 after the 1972 Airmen's coup attempt | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Government of Morocco | Coup plotters | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 King Hassan II | Mohamed Oufkir † Mohamed Amekrane  | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 8 killed and 40 wounded | |||||||
Hassan's plane, which had been strafed by air force jets, killing eight and injuring 40,[4] landed safely at Rabat's airport.
Background
The coup occurred a year after another attempted military coup against King Hassan II's regime. 250 rebels based in the Ahermoumou cadet training school attacked the King's palace on his 42nd birthday, killing 91 people and injuring 133.[5]
Oufkir had gained power after the coup in 1971, moving from the Minister of Interior to Minister of Defence. Many had believed he planned the first coup to facilitate this rise.[6]
Attack
All of the 220 men in the dock were officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers from the Kenitra air force installation. Most of them had only carried out the directives.[7]
On 16 August 1972, as King Hassan was returning to Morocco from a personal visit to France, four Royal Moroccan Air Force pilots, flying Northrop F-5 fighter jets, attacked the Boeing 727, It was said that Major Kouera el‐Ouafi led this attack.[8][2] The planes shot holes through the fuselage, killing some passengers. During the attack, Major Kouera el‐Ouafi plane was damaged and was forced to bail out, but was captured shortly afterward.[8] One plane broke off, strafing a nearby airfield and killing many on the ground.[9]
Allegedly, the rebel pilots broke off their attack on the King's aircraft after the King himself grabbed the radio and told the rebel pilots, "Stop firing! The tyrant is dead!" Believing their mission to have been accomplished, the rebel pilots broke off their attack.[3]
Eight passengers on the royal jet were killed and forty injured, however, the jet was able to land safely at Rabat airport.[4]
Aftermath
Kenitra Air Base, where most of the rebellious air force officers were based, was surrounded and hundreds arrested.[9]
Oufkir was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds later on 16 August, ostensibly from suicide when he learned the King knew of the betrayal.[10][11] Many of his relatives were imprisoned, not being released until 1991, speculated to be because of international criticism for possible human rights abuses.[12] General Mohamed Amekrane fled to Gibraltar after the coup's failure; he failed to receive asylum and was extradited back to Morocco where he was executed by firing squad.[13]