200. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Italy 1
Washington, September 6, 1970,
1756Z.
146338. Subject: Hijackings
- 1.
- We have asked British Embassy to request London to pass urgent message to British Embassy Baghdad re possible arrival in Baghdad of hijacked TWA or Pan American aircraft. We are asking that British Embassy Baghdad do what it can to assure that Iraqi government [Page 602] releases passengers and plane promptly in accordance Tokyo Convention2 and, in addition, apprehend hijackers.
- 2.
- In addition, Embassy London, as well as Foreign Ministry Rome and Brussels, should be made aware of fact that should Pan Am 747 aircraft land in either Damascus or Baghdad there will be no equipment available at either airport to offload passengers. Only way for passengers to disembark would be by escape slide. Therefore we request that addressees pass this information to host governments to assure that they understand situation and to urge that respective airport personnel be patient until Pan American is able to fly from Beirut equipment necessary to allow passengers to disembark. This could take several hours depending on clearances, etc. Pan American hesitant use escape route since it could result in broken ankles, etc.
Johnson
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, AV 12 US. Unclassified; Flash. Drafted by Seelye, cleared in AV, and approved by Davies. It was repeated to Beirut, USINT Cairo, Paris, and Tel Aviv.↩
- The Tokyo Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft was signed in Tokyo on September 14, 1963, and entered into force for the United States on December 4, 1969. In Article 11, Section 2, the Convention requires contracting states to allow aircraft passengers and crew who have been forced to land in their country by hijackers “to continue their journey as soon as practicable.” In Article 13, Section 2, the Convention requires contracting states to take custody of hijackers. (20 UST 2941)↩