NCJ Number
64025
Date Published
1972
Length
360 pages
Annotation
INCIDENTS OF AERIAL HIJACKING, THEIR CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES, ARE DESCRIBED FOR THE YEARS 1930 THROUGH MID-1971. INTERNATIONAL ACTION TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM IS HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
UP TO MID-1971, 214 SUCCESSFUL HIJACKINGS OF COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS, HAVE TAKEN PLACE MOST OCCURRING IN THE LATER FEW YEARS. IN ADDITION, 92 ABORTIVE ATTEMPTS, RESULTING IN DEATH OR CAPTURE OF THE HIJACKERS, HAVE OCCURRED. CUBA HAS BEEN THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATION, FOLLOWED BY THE ARAB COUNTRIES. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT PLANES ARE HIJACKED FOR POLITICAL, CRIMINAL ESCAPE, VENDETTA, PERSONAL DESPAIR, AND PSYCHOTIC REASONS. GRAPHIC EXAMPLES OF HIJACKING ATTEMPTS ILLUSTRATE THE PERSONALITIES OF THE HIJACKERS AND EFFECTS ON VICTIMS. THE VOLUME OPENS WITH THE HIJACKING OF A PAN AMERICAN 747 TO ITS FINAL DESTINATION IN CAIRO, EGYPT, WHERE THE PLAN IS DESTROYED. INCLUDED IN THE NARRATIVE IS A TAPE MADE BY A HAM RADIO OPERATOR WHO SECRETLY RECORDED THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE PLANE AND BEIRUT AIRPORT IN LEBANON, INVOLVING THE CAPTAIN, THE HIJACKERS, AIRPORT OFFICIALS, AND LEADERS OF THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE. FROM DISAFFECTED LITHUANIANS WHO HIJACKED A SOVIET AIRLINER AND MURDERED A STEWARDESS TO DISCONTENTED AMERICANS WHO HAVE MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO DIVERT PLANES TO CUBA, THIS VOLUME OFFERS A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF WORLDWIDE HIJACKINGS BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, INTERVIEWS, AND NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS. RECOMMENDATIONS TO INHIBIT THE HIJACKERS INCLUDE THE RATIFICATION AND SIGNING OF BILATERAL AND MUNTILATERAL AGREEMENTS, INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, AND CONVENTIONS STIPULATING EXTRADITION OR IMMEDIATE PUNISHMENT OF SKYJACKERS, A CHRONOLOGY OF AERIAL HIJACKINGS FROM 1930 THROUGH MID-1971 IS INCLUDED, ALONG WITH AN ANTIHIJACKING AGGREEMENT--THE CONVENTION FOR SUPPRESSION OF UNLAWFUL SEIZURE OF AIRCRAFT. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ALSO PRESENTED. (WJR)