The Sky Pirates - Hardcover

James A. Arey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684125846 ISBN 13: 9780684125848

Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1972

About this book: Published in hardback with dustjacket by Charles Scribner's sons in 1972, 'The Sky Pirates' is a 360 page comprehensive account of aerial hijacking, its causes and consequences. Between 1930 and mid-1971, there were 214 successful hijackings of commercial airliners, most of which have occurred in the last several years. In addition, there have been 92 abortive attempts, resulting in the death or capture of the hijackers. Cuba, of course, has been the most popular destination, with the Arab countries next. The author has found that the planes are hijacked for five (often overlapping) reasons: political, criminal escape, vendetta, personal despair, and psychotic. He gives graphic examples, describing the episode and the personality of the hijacker. He opens the book with a unique document concerning a Pan Am 747 which was hijacked after it left Amsterdam, dieverted to Beirut, and finally blown up at Cairo. The document includes a tape made by a ham radio operator who secretly recorded the conversation between the plane and Beirut Airport, involving the captain, the hijackers, airport officials, and leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The Sky Pirates discusses the steps that have been taken worldwide to combat the crime of aerial hijacking. Based on official documents, interviews, and newspaper accounts, the book gives a detailed and vivid picture of the international problem. Contents: 1. The Skyjack Tapes: Anatomy of a Hijacking; 2. Take Me to Havana; 3. Fly the Friendly Skies of the PFLP; 4. Losers: Square Pegs and Other Misfits; 5. Emotional Disaster Cases: The Sick at Heart and Suicidal; 6. Criminals: Fugitives from the Law; 7. Politics in the Sky; 8. The World Fights Back; 9. No Haven Anywhere; 10. We've Come a Long Way, But...; 11. Tomorrow the World?; Epilogue: and the War Goes On. Acknowledgements; Appendices

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.