Narrative:
The airplane was hijacked shortly after leaving San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO). Flight UA696 landed in Oakland to disembark passengers and cabin crew and to take on fuel for Cuba. Clay Thomas (hijacker) panicked and had the flight take off before complete fueling so Flight 696 had to land in Denver for more fuel. The cockpit crew escaped in Denver by jumping from the cockpit windows. The hijacker surrendered after loss of hostages.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Monday 13 March 1978 |
| Type: | Boeing 727 |
| Operator: | United Airlines |
| Registration: | registration unknown |
| MSN: | |
| First flight: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 75 |
| Aircraft damage: | Unknown |
| Location: | Memphis, Denver ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Unknown (UNK) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO/KSFO), United States of America |
| Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA (SEA/KSEA), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | UA696 |
The airplane was hijacked shortly after leaving San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO). Flight UA696 landed in Oakland to disembark passengers and cabin crew and to take on fuel for Cuba. Clay Thomas (hijacker) panicked and had the flight take off before complete fueling so Flight 696 had to land in Denver for more fuel. The cockpit crew escaped in Denver by jumping from the cockpit windows. The hijacker surrendered after loss of hostages.
Classification:
HijackPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from San Francisco International Airport, CA to Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA as the crow flies is 1086 km (679 miles).
Distance from San Francisco International Airport, CA to Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA as the crow flies is 1086 km (679 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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