On this day in Israel's history, Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight number 847 from Athens to Rome was hijacked by Hezbollah terrorists. Immediately after they took control of the plane, the Iranian-created and funded terrorists sought out passengers who had "Jewish-sounding names.” Armed with grenades and a 9 millimeter pistol, the terrorists forced the plane from its route to Rome and diverted it to land in Beirut, Lebanon.
Shortly before landing, air traffic control initially refused to let them land in Beirut. the plane's Captain John Testrake argued with air traffic control until they relented. He said at one point, "He has pulled a hand-grenade pin and he is ready to blow up the aircraft if he has to. We must, I repeat, we must land in Beirut. We must land in Beirut. No alternative."
At the time, Lebanon was in the midst of the Lebanese Civil War, and Beirut was divided into sectors controlled by different Shia Amal militia and Hezbollah. That afternoon, the aircraft continued on across the Mediterranean to Algiers, where 20 passengers were released during a five-hour stop before heading back to Beirut that night.
Once on the ground, the hijackers searched for passengers who had Israeli passports, yet none were on board. They then looked for high-value targets like diplomats from countries with ties to the Jewish State, and again none were on board. Frustrated, they turned their focus toward several deep-sea diving construction workers who worked for the United States Navy. Not long after landing in Beirut, the Hezbollah terrorists killed one of them, Naval Diver Robert Stethem, and dumped his body on the runway.
The TWA Flight Services Manager named Uli Derickson who was attacked at the outset of the hijacking was successful in protecting the Jewish passengers aboard, she refused to identify who they were. The hijackers had assaulted Derickson, then breached the cockpit while dragging her by her hair before they attacked and pistol-whipped the cockpit crew of Testrake, Phil Maresca, and Christian Zimmerman.
Most of the passengers were released in the early hours of what turned out to be a 17-day ordeal, but five men were singled out and separated from the rest of the hostages. Of these five, only Richard Herzberg, an American, was Jewish.
During the next two weeks, Herzberg maintained that he was a Lutheran of German and Greek ancestry. Along with the others, he was taken to a roach-infested holding cell somewhere in Beirut, where other Lebanese prisoners were being held.
The hijackers demanded the release of what was called the "Kuwait 17" who were the terrorists that orchestrated the 1983 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Kuwait. In addition, they also demanded the release of 766 Lebanese Shia Muslims aligned with Hezbollah that was being held in Israel's Atleat Prison. They also wanted all Israeli forces to retreat from Southern Lebanon but to leave their equipment. The oddest demand was a United Nations condemnation of the United States and Israel.
President Ronald Reagan intervened and was able to help secure the release of the hostages. Israel released 700 of the militants, although to this day they say it was at the request of Reagan and not a result of the terrorists' demands.
On June 30, after careful negotiations, the hostages were released unharmed. The released hostages then met with international journalists and were driven to Syria by the International Red Cross to the Sheraton Hotel and a press conference in Damascus. Since the terrorists were effectively outside the law’s reach in Lebanon, it appeared as though the terrorists would go free from punishment. Yet, Mohammed Ali Hammadi, who was wanted for his role in TWA Flight 847 attack, was arrested nearly two years later at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, with explosives.
