‘The Hijacking of Flight 601,’ also titled ‘Secuestro al vuelo 601,’ is a Spanish-language miniseries. This performance depicts the true story of the longest aircraft hijacking in Latin American history. On May 30, 1973, two masked men boarded an aircraft from Cali to Bogotá, Colombia. After the plane took off from its stop in Pereira, the hijackers pulled out hidden weapons. They demanded the release of fifty political prisoners and threatened to damage the plane and kill those aboard if their demands were not satisfied. When the government refused to talk, the pilot and two courageous stewardesses had to outwit the hijackers to preserve the passengers’ lives.
Created by Pablo Gonzalez and C.S. Prince, this Netflix series takes us back to 1973 Colombia. It introduces the main characters in Cali as they gather on Flight 601. As the hijacking story unfolds, we see the tense atmosphere inside the plane and the negotiators and authorities in Bogotá. To recreate this historical incident, the show uses many different filming locations.
Where was “The Hijacking of Flight 601” Filmed?
The majority of the filming for ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ took place in a Bogotá studio, with a few parts shot in Cali, Colombia. Principal photography began in late June 2023 and completed within a few months. Some sequences also featured grainy film material from the 1970s with a 4:3 aspect ratio to give the impression that the events were historical. Let’s go over the filming locations in detail.
Bogotá, Colombia
Interior Scenes Filmed in a Soundstage: The production team filmed the interior scenes of the aircraft using a soundstage in a movie studio in Bogotá. Bogotá was a natural choice for these scenes because it is the center of filmmaking in the country. The city has many independent film studios and a large pool of experienced film crew members. For ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601,’ the plane set was built on a soundstage, and the views from the cockpit were simulated with a massive, curved screen. This screen displayed the appropriate background for the cockpit scenes, both on the ground and in the air.
Cali, Colombia
City and Airport Scenes: The team traveled to Cali, in southwestern Colombia, to capture photos of the city and airport region featured in ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601. Cali was vital in conveying the true story, thus portions of it were realistically replicated in real locales. Cali is recognized for its abundance of colonial architecture, including well-preserved structures from the Spanish colonial era. These structures enabled filmmakers to travel back in time and use them as settings. Cali is also bordered by breathtaking natural surroundings, such as the Andes Mountains and Cauca River Valley. These sceneries may have appeared in other episodes and movies such as ‘Narcos,’ ‘Cobra Verde,’ and ‘The Snitch Cartel.’
In summary, the filming of ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ used various locations in Bogotá and Cali, Colombia, to bring the true story to life. The combination of studio sets and real locations helped create an authentic and immersive experience for the viewers.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – The Hijacking of Flight 601
Q: Where was ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ filmed?
A: ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ was primarily filmed in Bogotá, Colombia, where the interior scenes of the aircraft were shot on a soundstage in a movie studio. Some scenes were also filmed in Cali, Colombia, to capture the city and airport area.
Q: When was ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ filmed?
A: Filming for ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ began in late June 2023 and was completed within a few months, wrapping up in early 2024.
Q: What filming locations were used for ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’?
A: The show used multiple locations in Bogotá and Cali, Colombia. In Bogotá, the interior scenes of the aircraft were shot on a soundstage with a simulated environment. In Cali, real locations were used to recreate the city and airport scenes.
Q: How did the filmmakers recreate the 1970s setting for ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’?
A: The filmmakers used well-preserved colonial architecture in Cali and employed 1970s-style grainy film footage and the 4:3 aspect ratio to give the show an authentic historical feel.
Q: When is the release date for ‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’?
A:‘The Hijacking of Flight 601’ was released on Netflix in April 10, 2024.
