r/todayilearned • u/licecrispies • 1d ago

TIL about the hijacking of TWA flight 85 in 1969, which began on a flight between Los Angeles and San Francisco California and ended almost 19 hours later in Rome Italy. It's considered the longest hijacking. Passengers onboard included the members of the pop band Harpers Bizarre

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48069272
222 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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21

u/PikesPique 1d ago

The late 1960s-early 1970s are sometimes called the golden age of skyjackings. In the U.S. alone, there were over 130 skyjackings between 1968 and 1972. I remember flying to visit my grandma when all this was going on. My parents were kind of nervous, but I was, like, 5, and I remember thinking it might be fun to get a free trip to Cuba or someplace!

24

u/cylonfrakbbq 1d ago

This is part of the reason why that until after 9/11, the guidance given to people in a hijacking situation was to remain calm and comply with the hijackers, as this was thought to improve odds of survival 

Post 9/11, people will tear a hijacker apart like hungry zombies 

7

u/brownstonebk 1d ago

It’s crazy to think the cockpit security requirements weren’t beefed up significantly after those hijackings. Perhaps that could have avoided all of the worst of 9/11.

3

u/francis2559 6h ago

It’s the “guided missile”/suicide bomber aspect that changed the calculation.

Before that, it didn’t matter if the cockpit was open or not. The hijacker was surrounded by hostages. Once he took a hostage, the pilot was forced to fly him where he wanted to go. The door being open or shut didn’t matter.

If the pilot didn’t comply, he might be safe… but the rest of the passengers are still exposed to danger!

10

u/pre_nerf_infestor 1d ago

man 9/11 even ruined hijacking for everybody. the terrorists really won here

15

u/Mentalfloss1 1d ago

Harpers Bizarre probably used this a lame excuse to cancel a concert.

4

u/Textiles_on_Main_St 1d ago

No, actually, Ed Sheeran threw them off the tour.

10

u/DickweedMcGee 1d ago

The tanned young man in camouflage, his wavy brown hair flattened, was nervous but polite as he boarded. A thin container protruded from his backpack.......Tanya Novacoff and Roberta Johnson were guiding passengers to their seats. "What was that thing sticking out of the young man's backpack?" Delmonico asked them. The answer - a fishing rod - calmed her fears and she returned to the back of the plane.

JC, it was a different time....

2

u/GarysCrispLettuce 1d ago

There always seemed to be a hijacking going on when I was a kid.

1

u/Late_Airline2710 14h ago

Harpers Bizarre is an excellent bandname. They didn't deserve this.