The Evolution of Airport Security: A Look at Notable Hijackings

Before the 1970s, airport screening was virtually nonexistent. The turning point came after the hijacking of Southern Airways Flight 49 in November 1972, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enforce stricter security measures. As noted by Brendan Koerner in his book, The Skies Belong to Us: Love and Terror in the Golden Age of Hijacking, mandatory screening for all airline passengers was implemented on January 5, 1973.

In the four years preceding this change, the U.S. experienced over 130 hijackings, many driven by demands to be flown to communist Cuba. The introduction of screening effectively ended what some called the “golden age of hijacking,” reducing the annual number of global hijackings from 305 between 1968 and 1972 to approximately 20-40.

However, despite improved security measures, hijackings persisted into the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, resulting in tragic incidents. It wasn’t until the aftermath of the September 11 attacks that more stringent regulations and advanced technology made aircraft hijacking exceedingly rare.

Here, we reflect on five significant hijackings that shaped aviation history, including acts of violence and one unsolved mystery.

1. Ford Tri-Motor – February 21, 1931
The first recorded hijacking occurred in Arequipa, Peru, when U.S. citizen Byron Rickards was flying a Ford Tri-Motor. Armed revolutionaries surrounded Rickards upon landing, demanding he fly them to their destination. After a tense 10-day standoff, Rickards was released but was later hijacked again in 1961 in El Paso, Texas, by gunmen trying to reach Cuba. This time, law enforcement intervened, preventing another successful hijacking.

2. Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 – November 24, 1971
D.B. Cooper remains one of aviation’s most infamous hijackers. On this flight from Portland to Seattle, he extorted $200,000 and parachutes before jumping from the plane, disappearing without a trace. Despite extensive investigations, including a recent suspension by the FBI in 2019, Cooper’s identity and fate remain a mystery.

3. TWA Flight 847 – June 14, 1985
Hijacked by Mohammed Ali Hamadei and an accomplice, this flight was diverted multiple times between Beirut and Algiers. Over the course of 17 days, passengers faced severe conditions, and U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem was murdered. Hamadei was arrested in 1987 and convicted of multiple crimes, but he was released in 2005, raising questions about justice and accountability.

4. EgyptAir Flight 648 – November 23, 1985
This tragic hijacking turned deadly as three armed men took control of a Boeing 737. After separating passengers based on nationality, they initiated a standoff in Malta. Despite negotiations, several hostages were killed, making this one of the bloodiest hijackings in history. An Egyptian special forces rescue attempt ended in disaster, resulting in multiple fatalities.

5. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 – November 23, 1996
This flight was overtaken by three hijackers demanding to be flown to Australia. As fuel ran low, the aircraft crashed into the ocean, leading to the deaths of 119 passengers and crew members. The incident highlighted the tragic consequences of hijacking and the urgent need for effective security measures.

These events illustrate the critical need for robust airport security and the ongoing evolution of aviation safety protocols. As we reflect on this history, it’s clear that the measures implemented post-9/11 have drastically improved the safety of air travel today.