In the XX century, there was a real aviation boom. However, as soon as a fundamentally new type of transport appeared, it immediately attracted the attention of all sorts of criminal elements. Most aircraft hijackings are extremely dramatic events. However, there are openly ridiculous precedents in the aviation business. For example, like the hijacking of a plane in the United States in 1971. But first things first.
1. First hijacking of the plane
The first hijacking of an airplane in history was also the most painless for society. On February 21, 1931, a rebel group in Peru hijacked an American plane along with pilot Byron Richards. The pilot was ordered to take off and head for Lima. Everything in order to scatter propaganda leaflets. The pilot refused to do this, so he was arrested and taken into custody. The very next day, the revolution won in the country and Richards was released.
2. The first hijacking of the plane
On September 25, 1932, the first aircraft hijacking took place, followed by hijacking. Three leaders of the Brazilian revolution not far from São Joa de Meriti seized the Sikorsky S-38, taking another person hostage. There were no professional pilots on board, but this did not stop the terrorists from trying to take off. As you might expect, the car crashed to the ground and crashed immediately after takeoff. Three invaders and the hostage were killed.
3. The world's first "commercial" plane hijacking
On July 16, 1948, the first plane hijacking took place with the seizure of valuable hostages and cargo. A terrorist group led by Chiu Tok, a Mexican Chinese, hijacked the Cathay Pacific Airways 'Miss Macau' seaplane. Many "dear" personalities flew on the plane, and also a cargo of gold was transported, which attracted the bandits. The takeover did not go according to plan. The pilots turned out to be veterans of the Second World War and tried to resist the terrorists, as a result of which they were killed. Despite the fact that Chiu Tok was a pilot himself, the invader did not have time to take control of the aircraft. The plane crashed into the ocean. The fishermen who happened to be nearby rescued the only survivor - the terrorist Won Yuman. He spent 3 years in a Mexican prison, after which he was deported to China.
4. The world's first aircraft hijacking by special services
On October 22, 1956, the French special services carried out the first state hijacking of an aircraft in history. During Operation Offside, it was planned to destroy the leaders of the Algerian National Liberation Front. For the operation, a flight attendant was involved, who had been recruited by French intelligence for several years. She was able to convince the crew to take a course not to Tunisia, but to France. When the car landed on the ground, French special forces rushed into the cabin.
5. The world's first hijacking of an Israeli plane
On July 23, 1968, the first ever hijacking of an Israeli plane by terrorists took place. Three fighters from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) hijacked an EL AL Boeing 707 that was flying from Rome to Tel Aviv. The terrorists forced the crew to land the plane in Algeria, where they kept them for 40 days until the Israeli leadership went to release the 12 arrested PFLP leaders.
It is noteworthy that this case will once and for all change Israel's approach to the safety of its aircraft. No less interesting is the fact that two participants in this seizure will more than once “be noted” in such events until they are killed by the special services.
6. The world's first hijacking of a Soviet plane
On October 15, 1970, the first aircraft hijacking in the history of the USSR took place. An-24B passenger board of the Batumi-Sukhumi flight was captured by 45-year-old Pranas Brazinskas and his 15-year-old son Algirdas. During the capture, 19-year-old flight attendant Nadezhda Kurchenko was killed, who, suspecting something was wrong, tried to warn the pilots. Terrorists landed a plane in Turkey. There they were taken by the local special forces. Despite this, the country refused to extradite the invaders to the USSR. The elder received a light sentence - 8 years. Subsequently, the father and son left for the United States. In 2002, it became known that Algirdas had killed his father.
Interesting fact: Soviet film of 1973 "Applicant" is dedicated to Nadezhda Kurchenko.
7. First hijacking of an aircraft by an abnormal
On November 24, 1971, the first abnormal hijacking of an aircraft in the history of aviation took place. A Portland passenger hijacked a Northwest Orient plane with a bomb note. The hijacker kept the car in the sky for 2 additional hours. All this time he drank whiskey and talked nicely with the flight attendants. Before the end of the seizure, the terrorist even paid for what he had drunk and left it for tea. Nobody was hurt during the stupid takeover.
Continuing the theme, a story about how the special forces of the KGB of the USSR freed a plane captured by terrorists in Ufa and not only.