TWA Flight 840

Eris Maxwell

What? When?• The TWA 840, a Trans

World Airplanes plane was under attack twice.

• On, August 29, 1969, the TWA was hijacked– Yitzak Rabin, the

Israeli Ambassador was scheduled to aboard flight

– Leila Khaled and Salim Issawi were the hijackers

Cont’d–Hijackers demanded pilot to land in

Damascus–Hostages were released but the plane, a

Boeing 707, was blown up• On April 2, 1986, an explosion ripped a hole

TWA jet.• Traveling from Rome, Italy to Athens, Greece

Why?• Claimed attackers: Ezzedine Kassam Unit of the

Arab Revolutionary Cells• Reason for attack: Retaliating to the United States

bombing raids against Libya• Investigators revealed that the bomb contained 1lb

of plastic explosive • It was predicted that the bomb was placed under

the seat on a previous journey by a Lebanese woman– Worked for a Palestinian splinter group– She was later arrested

Effects• Out of 114 passengers, 4 died– Included a 9-month year old infant that died– 7 passengers hospitalized– Rapid decompression ensued in cabin– The crew, including the pilot, Captain Richard

Petersen, survived

Victims• Maria Styllan Klug• Demetra Klug (the infant) • Alberto Ospino • Demetra Stylianopoulos