Incident Overview
Date: Monday 13 March 1978
Aircraft Type: Boeing 727
Owner/operator: United Airlines
Location: Memphis, Denver –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Unknown
Status: Unknown
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 75
Component Affected: Aircraft cockpit and flight control systems.Aircraft cockpit and flight control systems.
Category: Unlawful Interference
A flight, Flight UA696, was hijacked shortly after departing San Francisco International Airport (SFO), heading to Cuba. The hijacker, Clay Thomas, panicked and initiated an immediate departure, forcing the aircraft to land in Denver for additional fuel. The cockpit crew escaped in Denver via jumping from the cockpit windows. The hijacker surrendered after the loss of hostages.A flight, Flight UA696, was hijacked shortly after departing San Francisco International Airport (SFO), heading to Cuba. The hijacker, Clay Thomas, panicked and initiated an immediate departure, forcing the aircraft to land in Denver for additional fuel. The cockpit crew escaped in Denver via jumping from the cockpit windows. The hijacker surrendered after the loss of hostages.
Description
The airplane was hijacked shortly after leaving San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO). Flight UA696 landed in Oakland to disembark passengers and cabin crew and to take on fuel for Cuba. Clay Thomas (hijacker) panicked and had the flight take off before complete fueling so Flight 696 had to land in Denver for more fuel. The cockpit crew escaped in Denver by jumping from the cockpit windows. The hijacker surrendered after loss of hostages.
Primary Cause
Hijacking of an aircraft by a passenger.Hijacking of an aircraft by a passenger.Share on:
