ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY
October 10, 1985
F-14 Tomcats Force Down a Plane Carrying the Hijackers
of the Achille Lauro Cruise Ship and They are Arrested
On this day in 1985, after two days of negotiations, authorities agree to allow the hijackers of the Achille
Lauro to leave the cruise ship even though they had killed and dumped a disabled American overboard.
Upon hearing that the hijackers were aboard a Egyptian commercial airliner, President Ronald Reagan ordered an
interception by F-14 Tomcats. The airliner was forced down in Italy and the hijackers were arrested.
While Italy allowed the remaining passengers to continue on their flight (along with possibly the mastermind of the
hijacking) against protests by the United States, Egypt demanded an apology for forcing down the airliner.
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