The Panama Airline Attack against Alas Chiricanas: The Suspect will be Extradited to Panama
Venezuela agreed to allow Ali Zaki Hage Jalil to face justice after being identified as an alleged member of the group that blew up the plane in 1994. The United States government was offering a reward of up to $5 million.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Venezuela approved the extradition of Ali Zaki Hage Jalil, the main suspect in the terrorist attack perpetrated against the Alas Chiricanas Company, which claimed the lives of 21 people in 1994. If the extradition, which was approved this Friday, is finalized, Ali Zaki Hage Jalil would face a legal process in Panama. The capture of Ali Zaki Hage Jalil was registered last November on Margarita Island in Venezuela, following a red alert issued by Panama, the foreign ministry detailed.
“The person sought is a Colombian national by birth and a Venezuelan national by naturalization, which introduced legal complexities , since Venezuelan legislation limits the extradition of its nationals ,” explained the Foreign Ministry, which added that “the Panamanian request was duly received by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry and the case advanced to the judicial sphere.” The Foreign Ministry noted that US authorities have also shown interest in the case, given that there are US citizens among the victims, and that there are indications of the detainee’s connection to an international terrorist organization.
Panama formally submitted the extradition request for Hage Jalil to Venezuela in January 2026, “in compliance with the diplomatic channels established between both nations. The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the above “allowed for the approval of the extradition of the main suspect, which represents a significant advance in the process, and opens the coordination phase for his delivery and eventual prosecution.” Panamanian authorities will continue working to uncover the truth, determine responsibilities, and ensure that those responsible are punished in an exemplary manner, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
The Event
The terrorist attack against Alas Chiricanas was recorded on July 19, 1994, and the day before, there was one in Argentina against the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA). Among the 21 deceased were three American citizens and twelve businessmen who were members of the Jewish community. Ali Hawa Jamal, who also died in the attack, was identified as the suicide bomber who placed the bomb on the plane.
The group Ansar Allah, which the U.S. government has determined to be an alias of Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for the Alas Chiricanas bombing. While in Argentina the case was investigated by prosecutor Alberto Nisman who formally accused the Iranian government of the time of planning the attack and Hezbollah of carrying it out. Prosecutor Nisman was murdered days before he could indict former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, among others, because he believed there was an alleged attempt to cover up the Iranians accused in that case.
