United Airlines Flight 696 Explained

United Airlines Flight 696
Occurrence Type:Hijack
Date:March 13, 1978
Type:Aircraft hijacking
Site:Oakland, California
Denver, Colorado
Coordinates:39.7607°N -104.892°W
Aircraft Type:Boeing 727
Operator:United Airlines
Tail Number:Unknown
Origin:San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, California
Stopover0:Oakland, California
Last Stopover:Denver, Colorado
Destination:Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington
Injuries:3
Fatalities:0
Survivors:75

United Airlines Flight 696 was a flight from San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, to Seattle, Washington, with 75 people in board on March 13, 1978, which was hijacked by a man claiming to have a bomb. The incident resulted in no serious injuries and the arrest of the hijacker, Clay Thomas.[1] [2]

Background

After takeoff from San Francisco, Clay Thomas, claiming to have a bomb, hijacked the Boeing 727-222, demanding the plane land in Oakland, California, and fuel up for a flight to Cuba. The crew negotiated the release of all the passengers and cabin crew while on the ground in Oakland waiting for fuel. Panicked by the sight of police vehicles, Thomas cut the fueling short and demanded an immediate departure to Cuba. Once the plane was airborne, the pilot explained that the aircraft still did not have enough fuel to reach Cuba, and Thomas agreed to land in Denver, Colorado, for more fuel. About 90 minutes after landing, the three members of the cockpit crew all jumped to safety from the open cockpit windows, all suffering injuries in the 18feet jump. Within five minutes of the escape and without hostages, Thomas meekly surrendered to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.[3] [4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1978-03-16 . Officials could not call hijacker's bluff . 2023-03-05 . Wisconsin State Journal . 13 . en.
  2. Web site: 1978-03-16 . FBI sure hijacker didn't have a bomb . 2023-03-05 . Clarion-Ledger . 10 . en.
  3. Web site: Ranter. Harro. ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 727-222 registration unknown Memphis, Denver. aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network.
  4. Web site: 1978-03-16 . Officials Hijacker of Jet in San Francisco Had Bomb . 2023-03-05 . Albuquerque Journal . 23 . en.