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6.14.20 – Remembering the Heroes of TWA Flight 847

APFA Special Hotline

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Remembering the Heroes of TWA Flight 847

TWA aircraft on the runway

Thirty-five years ago, Trans World Airlines Flight 847 was hijacked after takeoff from Athens, Greece, with 139 passengers and eight crew members on board. The flight, scheduled to land at Rome, Italy, was diverted to Beirut, Lebanon, where nineteen passengers were released in exchange for fuel. The hijackers flew the plane, crew, and remaining passengers between Beirut and Algiers, Algeria over the next few days as the ordeal continued.

The crew of TWA 847 are widely credited with saving the lives of many passengers, using their excellent training as well as language skills to communicate with and calm the hijackers. The crew repeatedly put themselves in harm’s way to block the hijacker’s plans of harming more passengers.

We pause to remember the death of U.S. Navy Diver and TWA 847 passenger Robert Stethem, who was shot and killed during the standoff.

Today, we honor TWA Purser Uli Derickson, Flight Attendants Judy Cox, Hazel Hesp, Elizabeth Howes, and Helen Sheahan, Captain John Testrake, First Officer Philip Maresca, and Flight Engineer Benjamin Zimmerman. We will never forget their heroic actions that helped save the lives of many.

Crew of TWA Flight 847

The Crew of TWA 847

 

US Navy Diver and TWA 847 Passenger Robert Stethem

US Navy Diver and TWA 847 Passenger, Robert Stethem

 

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APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040

M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108

Call APFA

Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108

Chat APFA

After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)

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