Hijackings that shook the world

El Al Flight 426 was hijacked on July 23, 1968, by members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The flight, which had departed from Rome, Italy, bound for Tel Aviv, Israel, was diverted to Algiers, Algeria. The hijacking marked the first successful hijacking of an El Al aircraft and was part of a series of hijackings by Palestinian groups to draw attention to their cause. The hostages were held for 40 days before being released, following negotiations.

Japan Airlines Flight 351, known as the 'Yodo-go incident,' was hijacked on March 31, 1970, by members of the Japanese Red Army, a leftist militant group. The hijackers, armed with samurai swords and a bomb, took control of the domestic flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka and redirected it to North Korea. This incident was part of a series of radical political statements by the group, aiming to overthrow the Japanese government and start a revolution.

KLM Flight 861, also known as the 'Dawson's Field hijackings,' was part of a series of simultaneous hijackings carried out by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine on September 6, 1970. The flight, a Boeing 747, was en route from Amsterdam to New York City when it was diverted to Dawson's Field, a remote desert airstrip in Jordan, along with three other hijacked planes. This event was part of a larger strategy to gain publicity and concessions from Western governments.

Sabena Flight 571 was hijacked on May 8, 1972, by four members of the Black September Organization, a Palestinian terrorist group. The flight, which was traveling from Vienna to Tel Aviv, was forced to land at Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion Airport) in Israel. The hijackers demanded the release of 315 Palestinian prisoners. The situation ended when Israeli commandos, including future Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stormed the plane in a rescue operation that freed all hostages.

On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139, which was en route from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens, was hijacked by two members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - External Operations (PFLP-EO) and two members of the German Revolutionary Cells. The aircraft was diverted to Entebbe, Uganda, where the hijackers were joined by additional supporters. They demanded the release of 40 Palestinians held in Israel and 13 other detainees incarcerated in Kenya, France, Switzerland, and Germany. The situation culminated in a daring rescue mission by Israeli commandos.

Lufthansa Flight 181, also known as 'Landshut,' was hijacked on October 13, 1977, by four members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The flight, carrying 86 passengers and five crew members, was traveling from Palma de Mallorca to Frankfurt. The hijackers demanded the release of eleven members of the Red Army Faction (RAF) imprisoned in Germany, along with two Palestinians. After several days and multiple country stops, the ordeal ended in Mogadishu, Somalia, where German GSG 9 commandos successfully rescued all hostages.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 653 was hijacked on December 4, 1977, shortly after departing from Penang for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Boeing 737 was carrying 100 passengers and crew. The hijackers, whose identities and motives remain unclear, caused the aircraft to crash, killing all on board. This tragic event marked the first fatal air crash in Malaysia Airlines' history and led to increased security measures in the country's aviation sector.

Aer Lingus Flight 164 was hijacked on May 2, 1981, by a lone gunman demanding that the Pope release the third secret of Fatima. The flight, en route from Dublin to London, was diverted to Le Touquet, France. After a standoff, French police stormed the aircraft and apprehended the hijacker. This incident is notable as one of the few hijackings motivated by religious rather than political or criminal reasons.

TWA Flight 847 was hijacked on June 14, 1985, by members of Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad shortly after taking off from Athens, Greece. The flight was en route to Rome with a final destination of San Diego. The hijackers demanded the release of 766 Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The ordeal lasted 17 days and involved multiple stops, including Beirut and Algiers. The crisis was marked by the murder of a U.S. Navy diver and the release of the remaining 39 American hostages was negotiated through international efforts.

Air India Flight 182 was destroyed by a bomb on June 23, 1985, while in Irish airspace, en route from Toronto to London, then continuing to Delhi. The bombing was carried out by Sikh extremists seeking independence from India. All 329 people on board were killed, making it one of the deadliest terrorist attacks involving an aircraft in history. The incident highlighted the reach and impact of terrorist networks and led to increased security measures worldwide.

EgyptAir Flight 648 was hijacked on November 23, 1985, by the Abu Nidal Organization, a Palestinian terrorist group. The hijacking began shortly after the Boeing 737 took off from Athens, Greece, en route to Cairo, Egypt. The terrorists demanded the release of prisoners held by Israel and Egypt. The situation escalated when Egyptian commandos attempted a rescue operation at Malta International Airport, leading to a disastrous shootout that resulted in the deaths of 58 out of 98 passengers.

On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73, with 360 people on board, was hijacked by four armed men of the Abu Nidal Organization at Karachi International Airport in Pakistan. The hijackers' plan was to use the airplane to pick up Palestinian prisoners in Cyprus and Israel. A 16-hour ordeal ensued during which the hijackers opened fire, resulting in the deaths of 20 passengers and injuries to many others. The standoff ended when the hijackers were captured after a dramatic rescue operation by Pakistani commandos.

Korean Air Lines Flight 858 was destroyed by a bomb on November 29, 1987, while flying over the Andaman Sea. The attack was orchestrated by North Korean agents as part of an effort to disrupt the upcoming 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. All 115 passengers and crew on board were killed. The incident significantly heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and had a lasting impact on inter-Korean relations and international aviation security.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 was hijacked on November 23, 1996, by three Ethiopians seeking asylum. The plane, a Boeing 767, was on its route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi when it was taken over. The hijackers demanded to be flown to Australia. Unaware of the plane's fuel limitations, the hijackers insisted on continuing despite the pilot's warnings. The plane eventually ran out of fuel and crashed into the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands, resulting in the deaths of 125 of the 175 passengers and crew on board.

Indian Airlines Flight 814, commonly known as IC 814, was hijacked on December 24, 1999, during a flight from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Delhi, India. The aircraft was taken over by five gunmen, who were identified as members of the terrorist group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. The hijackers forced the aircraft to land in several different countries, including India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, before finally landing in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The hijackers demanded the release of three militants in exchange for the safe release of the hostages. The crisis ended after India agreed to release the militants.

On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 was hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists led by Mohamed Atta as part of a coordinated attack involving three other planes. The hijackers deliberately crashed the plane into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing catastrophic damage and significant loss of life. This event marked a pivotal moment in global history, leading to the United States initiating the War on Terror and invading Afghanistan to dismantle al-Qaeda.

United Airlines Flight 175, another aircraft involved in the September 11 attacks, was hijacked by five terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda. The plane, en route from Boston to Los Angeles, was flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City less than 20 minutes after the first plane hit the North Tower. This act of terrorism was part of a larger plot that targeted major American landmarks and resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths, profoundly impacting the United States and the world.

On September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked by four al-Qaeda terrorists as part of the same series of attacks that included the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The passengers on board fought back against the hijackers, which ultimately led to the plane crashing into a field in Pennsylvania, preventing another target from being hit. This courageous act of passenger resistance has been memorialized and remains a significant moment in the narrative of that day.

American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists on September 11, 2001, as part of the coordinated terrorist attacks that day. The hijackers crashed the plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, leading to significant casualties and damage. This event was one of four targeted attacks that day, which collectively led to widespread changes in U.S. and international aviation security.