An aircraft is hijacked when the a person or a group of persons, usually armed, take-over an aircraft and force their demands.
The number of aircraft hijackings in the years 1987-96 was 212. Here are some of the most well-known hijackings as listed on Wikipedia -
United States (September 11, 2001): 19 terrorists hijacked four planes. 2,752 people died at the World Trade Center, 189 died in Washington, DC, and 44 died crashing into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Pakistan (1999-2000): Pakistan-based terrorists hijack Indian Airlines Flight 814 and divert it to Kandahar. After a week-long stand-off, India agrees to release three jailed Pakistani terrorists in exchange for the hostages.
Afghanistan (2000): Ariana Afghan Airlines Boeing 727 is hijacked on an internal flight within Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, and ended up at London Stansted Airport.
Ethiopia (1996): Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 crashed into the Indian Ocean near a beach in the Comoros Islands. 125 passengers die and 50 survive.
People's Republic of China (1990): Hijackers seized a plane from the People's Republic of China which later crashed as it tried to land in Canton, killing 128 people.
Kuwait (1988): Two Kuwaitis are killed in 1988 when Shi'a gunmen hijack a Kuwait Airways flight from Thailand and force it to fly to Algiers with more than 110 people on board; the hijack ends after 16 days when the hijackers free the remaining hostages.
Palestinian National Authority (1986): 22 people are killed when Pakistani security forces storm Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi, carrying 400 passengers and crew after a 16-hour siege.
Palestinian National Authority (1985): Palestinians take over EgyptAir Flight 648 and fly it to Malta. All together, 60 people died.
Lebanon (1985): Lebanese Shi'a hijackers divert TWA Flight 847 from Athens to Beirut with 153 people on board. The stand-off ends after Israel frees 31 Lebanese prisoners.
Indonesia (1981): The Hijacking of Flight Garuda Indonesia GA 206 on 28 March 1981. The hijackers, a group called Commando Jihad, demanded the release of Commando Jihad members imprisoned in Indonesia, and US $ 1.5 million. All the other hijackers were killed. All the hostages were saved.
Pakistan 1981: A Pakistan International Airlines jet is hijacked and taken to Kabul. The hostages are finally released after 13 days when the Pakistani Government agrees to free fifty political prisoners.
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