The 7 Worst Hijackings in History

Hijackings are among the most feared events in aviation, not only because of the immediate danger to passengers and crew but also because they often have deep political or ideological motivations. In this list, we take a closer look at the seven worst and most notorious hijackings in history, where drama, loss of life, and global attention have left an impact. The ranking goes from severe to the most catastrophic.

#7: Air France Flight 8969 (1994)

Four Islamist extremists from GIA hijacked the plane in Algeria with the intention of crashing it into the Eiffel Tower. After several days of chaos, the plane was forced to land in Marseille, where French elite soldiers stormed it. Three passengers were killed, but the operation prevented a catastrophe in Paris and was later hailed as a model for anti-terror efforts.

#6: Lufthansa Flight 181 (1977)

The plane was hijacked by the leftist group “Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine” in collaboration with the RAF. After several stopovers and deadly pressure on the German authorities, the plane was freed by the West German special force GSG 9 in Mogadishu. One steward was killed, but the operation saved most passengers and strengthened West Germany’s anti-terror strategy.

#5: TWA Flight 847 (1985)

The plane was hijacked by Hezbollah members and held for six days. An American Navy diver was brutally murdered and thrown from the plane as part of the negotiations. The situation led to a prolonged diplomatic crisis, and the hijacking became a symbol of the 1980s growing threat from the Middle East’s militant groups.

#4: Indian Airlines Flight 814 (1999)

This plane was hijacked on its way from Kathmandu to Delhi by Pakistani militants. It was flown to Kandahar in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where passengers were held hostage for seven days. To save the 176 onboard, India was forced to release three dangerous terrorists, including Masood Azhar, who later founded Jaish-e-Mohammed.

#3: Entebbe Hijacking (1976)

Two members of the German Baader-Meinhof group and two Palestinian militants hijacked an Air France plane and redirected it to Entebbe, Uganda. Israeli special forces carried out a dramatic and well-coordinated rescue operation, where almost all hostages were saved. The operation, however, cost several lives, including Yoni Netanyahu, brother to a future Israeli Prime Minister.

#2: Pan Am Flight 73 (1986)

In Karachi, Pakistan, four armed men stormed the plane and killed 20 passengers during a deadly hostage situation, where the crew fortunately managed to escape. The Indian stewardess Neerja Bhanot helped hide passengers and was later posthumously honored as a hero. The hijacking left a bloody trail and raised global awareness of aviation security in South Asia.

#1: September 11, 2001 – Terror Attacks in the USA

The most devastating hijacking in history. Four commercial flights were hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists and used as suicide bombs against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passenger resistance. Over 3,000 people died. The attack changed the world’s view on terrorism, security, and aviation, creating a new era with global consequences.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.