TWA’s Next Problem: Getting Jetliner Back
With the announcement that the 39 hostages from TWA Flight were freed Sunday, the airline turned its attention to another problem--getting back the hijacked Boeing 727 jetliner that remains parked at Beirut airport.
Sally C. McElwreath, a spokeswoman for TWA, said airline officials are working through diplomatic channels to seek the return of the aircraft, which was commandeered by two Shia Muslim hijackers on a flight from Athens to Rome on June 14.
“We sure hope to get it back soon,” McElwreath said, adding that once agreement on returning the plane is reached, presumably through the Amal militia, the jet would be flown to a nearby airport, probably Athens, for preliminary maintenance.
From there, it probably would be flown to Kansas City, Mo., for a “top-to-bottom examination” at TWA’s central maintenance facility, she said.
The hijacked plane appears to be in good condition on the exterior.
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