Incident Overview
Date: Friday 10 April 1981
Aircraft Type: Airbus A300B
Owner/operator: Eastern Air Lines
Location: Miami International Airport, FL (MIA) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 148
Component Affected: Aircraft Flight AttendantAircraft Flight Attendant
Category: Unlawful Interference
A hijacker seized a flight attendant and concealed a flammable liquid bottle, subsequently igniting it with a torch, resulting in a fire that caused the hijacker’s asphyxiation and ultimately led to his death during the aircraft’s landing in Miami.A hijacker seized a flight attendant and concealed a flammable liquid bottle, subsequently igniting it with a torch, resulting in a fire that caused the hijacker’s asphyxiation and ultimately led to his death during the aircraft’s landing in Miami.
Description
While enroute the hijacker went to the rear of the aircraft and grabbed a flight attendant around the neck. In the other hand he held a small plastic bottle containing flammable liquid. The flight attendant broke away. The hijacker then lit the flammable liquid. A torch-like fire started. Flight attendants using CO2 fire extinguishers put out the fire and sprayed the hijacker. Two passengers then attacked the hijacker and were assisted by flight attendants. As a result of the spraying and the struggle the hijacker died of asphyxiation prior to the time the aircraft landed at Miami.
Primary Cause
Hijacking and concealment of flammable liquid.Hijacking and concealment of flammable liquid.Share on:
