ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9 registration unknown Marion, IL
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Status:
Date:Thursday 21 December 1978
Type:McDonnell Douglas DC-9
Operator:Trans World Airlines - TWA
Registration: registration unknown
MSN:
First flight:
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 89
Aircraft damage: None
Location:Marion, IL (   United States of America)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Saint Louis-Lambert International Airport, MO (STL/KSTL), United States of America
Destination airport:Kansas City (unknown airport), MO, United States of America
Flightnumber:TW541
Narrative:
A 17-year old female passenger hijacked the flight, while holding what she claimed was a bomb. She surrendered after the aircraft diverted to Marion, Illinois. The bomb appeared to be railroad flares wired to a doorbell.
Apparently she wanted the release of a convicted felon who had a relationship with her mother. The mother had been shot and killed in May 1978 when attempting to hijack a helicopter in order to help the convict escape from prison.

Classification:
Hijack

Sources:
» Youngstown Vindicator - Dec 22, 1978


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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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