Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 5 December 1981
Aircraft Type: Boeing 707
Owner/operator: Trans World Airlines – TWA
Location: Cleveland, OH –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Standing
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 87
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
On TWA flight 534, a passenger attempted to hijack the aircraft by brushing past agents, claiming to possess a gun and bomb. He fled the cockpit and was apprehended. Investigation revealed no weapons or explosives were found, and the hijacker pleaded guilty to state charges of attempted abduction and abduction.On TWA flight 534, a passenger attempted to hijack the aircraft by brushing past agents, claiming to possess a gun and bomb. He fled the cockpit and was apprehended. Investigation revealed no weapons or explosives were found, and the hijacker pleaded guilty to state charges of attempted abduction and abduction.
Description
As passengers were boarding TWA flight 534 at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, Ohio, USA, a passenger brushed past ticket agents and boarded. He told the crew he was hijacking the aircraft. Holding a hand in a pocket, he claimed to have a gun and a bomb. The passengers deplaned while the hijacker was in the cockpit. When he left the cockpit to close the aircraft’s door, the pilot and flight engineer attempted to overpower him. The hijacker and flight engineer fell off the aircraft’s steps. The flight engineer was injured and the hijacker was taken into custody. No weapons or explosives were located. He pled guilty to state charges of attempted abduction and abduction and was committed to a mental institution.
Primary Cause
Passenger-related hijacking attempt.Passenger-related hijacking attempt.Share on:
