Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 19 November 1985
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737
Owner/operator: America West Airlines
Location: Phoenix-Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ (PHX) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Standing
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 63
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
A hijacker boarded a flight with 58 passengers and 5 crew, demanding removal and subsequently initiating a hijacking. The hijacker, holding a butane cigarette lighter and an electrical plug with a switch, repeatedly yelled about taking over the aircraft. He was overpowered by a ramp operator, and subsequently arrested and charged with air piracy. Psychological evaluation was ordered.A hijacker boarded a flight with 58 passengers and 5 crew, demanding removal and subsequently initiating a hijacking. The hijacker, holding a butane cigarette lighter and an electrical plug with a switch, repeatedly yelled about taking over the aircraft. He was overpowered by a ramp operator, and subsequently arrested and charged with air piracy. Psychological evaluation was ordered.
Description
Upon boarding the hijacker presented a ticket with the word “death” written on it. The flight had 58 passengers and 5 crew. The pilot requested that the hijacker be removed. Initially the hijacker got off at the request of an airline supervisor. When the hijacker realized the aircraft’s door was being closed behind him, he pushed the supervisor away and ran back on the plane. The hijacker yelled that he was getting on the flight and that he was going to hijack the plane. At the time he was holding a butane cigarette lighter and an electrical plug with a switch. A ramp operator overpowered the hijacker and removed him from the aircraft. He was arrested, charged with air piracy. He was ordered to undergo psychological evaluation.
Primary Cause
HijackingHijackingShare on:
