Mogadischu (2008): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2008, Mogadischu is a thriller, tv movie and history film directed by Roland Suso Richter, running about 108 minutes.

What it’s about. The incredible true story of Lufthansa Flight 181, which was hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in October of 1977, and the noble efforts of stewardess Gabriele Dillmann (Nadja Uhl) to ensure the safety of the terrified passengers throughout the harrowing ordeal. When terrorists sympathetic to the cause of the German Red Army Faction seize control of the flight, German chancellor Helmut Schmidt refuses to negotiate. Meanwhile, terrorist leader "Captain Martyr Mahmud" grows increasingly agitated, and the Yemeni government refuses to let the plane land on their soil. After Captain Schumann (Thomas Kretschmann) makes an emergency landing in the sand, he is brutally executed in front of the passengers by "Captain Martyr Mahmud" (Said Taghmaoui), who then forces the co-pilot to fly the plane to Somolia. Once there, counter terrorism measures quickly get underway as the passengers brace themselves for the worst.

Who’s in it. Mogadischu stars Thomas Kretschmann as Captain Jürgen Schumann, Nadja Uhl as Stewardess Gabriele Dillmann, Saïd Taghmaoui as Captain Mahmud and Christian Berkel as Bundeskanzler Helmut Schmidt, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Mogadischu has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Mogadischu page.

If you liked it. Fans of Mogadischu tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.