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{{short description|1970 aircraft hijacking}}
{{Infobox Aircraft occurrence
{{Infobox Aircraft occurrence
|name = Eastern Air Lines Shuttle Flight 1320
| name = Eastern Air Lines Shuttle Flight 1320
|occurrence_type = Hijack
| occurrence_type = Hijack
|date = March 17, 1970
| date = March 17, 1970
|type = [[Aircraft hijacking]]
| type = [[Aircraft hijacking]]
|site = Boston-Logan International Airport, MA, USA
| site = Boston-Logan International Airport, MA, USA
|aircraft_type = McDonnell Douglas [[DC-9]]-31
| aircraft_type = McDonnell Douglas [[DC-9]]-31
| aircraft_name =
⚫
| operator = [[Eastern Air Lines]]
|aircraft_name =
⚫
| tail_number = N8925E
⚫
|operator = [[Eastern Air Lines]]
⚫
| origin = [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], Newark NJ
⚫
|tail_number = N8925E
|origin = [[Newark Liberty International Airport]], Newark NJ
| destination = [[Logan International Airport]], Boston, MA
| passengers = 68
⚫
|destination = [[Logan International Airport]], Boston, MA
|passengers = 68
| crew = 5
|crew = 5
| injuries = 2
|injuries = 2
| fatalities = 1
|fatalities = 1
| survivors = 72
| image = File:N8925E 090531 DTW 0558 (36293190924).jpg
|survivors = 72
| alt =
|image=McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, Eastern Air Lines JP5952972.jpg|alt=|caption=An Eastern Air Lines DC-9, similar to the aircraft involved in the incident|coordinates=|missing=|stopover=|stopover0=|last_stopover=|image_upright=}}
| caption = The aircraft involved in the hijacking, while operating for Northwest Airlines in 2009
| coordinates =
| missing =
| stopover =
| stopover0 =
| last_stopover =
| image_upright =
}}


'''Eastern Air Lines Shuttle Flight 1320''', carrying passengers from [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] to [[Boston]] was hijacked around 7:30 P.M. on March 17, 1970 by John J. Divivo who was armed with a .38 caliber revolver.<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19700317-0|type=Hijacking}}</ref> Captain Robert Wilbur Jr., 35, a former Air Force pilot who had only been promoted to captain six months prior, was shot in his arm by the suicidal hijacker. Despite his wounds, he flew his aircraft safely to a landing while talking to the tower, telling them his copilot was shot (but not himself) and needed an ambulance. His copilot, First Officer James Hartley, 30, was shot without warning by Divivo and collapsed. Despite being mortally wounded Hartley recovered sufficiently to rip the gun from Divivo's hand, and shoot the would-be hijacker three times before lapsing into unconsciousness, and eventually death. Although wounded and slumped between the seats, Divivo arose and began clawing at Captain Wilbur, attempting to force a crash. Wilbur hit Divivo over the head with the gun he had retrieved from the center console.<ref name="Oneheckofafight">{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2009/03/30/one_heck_of_an_in_air_gunfight_on_a_civilian_jet/|title=One heck of an in-air gunfight on a civilian jet|last=Tristani, Captain, Eastern Air Lines (ret)|first=J.P.|date=March 30, 2009|publisher=Boston Globe|accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref> The pilot was able to land the plane safely at [[Logan International Airport]], and the hijacker was arrested immediately.<ref name="Friends">{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/20/friends_in_high_places/|title=Friends in high places|last=Walker|first=Adrian|date=March 20, 2009|publisher=Boston Globe|accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref> On November 1, 1970, DiVivo hanged himself while awaiting trial at [[Charles Street Jail]].<ref name="Eastern Airlines Hijacking">[http://www.celebrateboston.com/disasters/eastern-airlines-hijacking-1970.htm Eastern Airlines Hijacking] at CelebrateBoston.com</ref>
'''Eastern Air Lines Shuttle Flight 1320''', carrying passengers from [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] to [[Boston]], was hijacked around 7:30 p.m. on March 17, 1970, by John J. Divivo who was armed with a [[.38 caliber]] [[revolver]].<ref>{{ASN accident|id=19700317-0|type=Hijacking}}</ref> Captain Robert Wilbur Jr., 35, a former [[United States Air Force]] pilot who had been promoted to captain six months prior was confronted by Divio, who ordered him to fly east and alert him when the plane was going to run out of fuel. But something startled the suicidal hijacker, who shot Wilbur in the arms. Despite his wounds and his copilot being shot and unconscious, Wilbur safely landed his aircraft while talking to air traffic control, telling them his copilot was shot and needed emergency services.

'''Wilbur''': We're on 3100 and you better get the police at the airport. The copilot is shot. Get us in a hurry [[Logan International Airport|BOS]].<br/>
'''Boston ATC''': 1320, I gotcha, continue right inbound to the airport. You're 13 miles east, indent on code 04.<br/>
'''Wilbur''': Ok, get-get an ambulance to the airport also. My copilot is discombobulated. He can't talk or anything. He's passed out. We've been shot. <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/20/magazine/you-dont-understand-captain-he-has-gun-hijacking-flight-1320/|title='You don't understand, Captain. He has a gun': The hijacking of Flight 1320|date=March 20, 2020|website=BostonGlobe.com|accessdate=2020-03-20}}</ref>

His copilot, James Hartley, 30, was shot and collapsed. Despite being mortally wounded, Hartley was able to force the gun from Divivo's hand and shoot the would-be hijacker three times before lapsing into unconsciousness, and eventual death. Despite his injuries, Divivo arose and began clawing at Captain Wilbur, attempting to force a crash. Wilbur hit Divivo over the head with the gun he had retrieved from the center console.<ref name="Oneheckofafight">{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2009/03/30/one_heck_of_an_in_air_gunfight_on_a_civilian_jet/|title=One heck of an in-air gunfight on a civilian jet|last=Tristani|first=J.P.|date=March 30, 2009|website=[[Boston.com]]|accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref> The pilot was able to land the plane safely at [[Logan International Airport]], and the hijacker was arrested.<ref name="Friends">{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/20/friends_in_high_places/|title=Friends in high places|last=Walker|first=Adrian|date=March 20, 2009|website=[[Boston.com]]|accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref> On October 31, 1970, Divivo hanged himself in [[Charles Street Jail]] while awaiting trial.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celebrateboston.com/disasters/eastern-airlines-hijacking-1970.htm |title=Eastern Airlines Hijacking, 1970 |website=CelebrateBoston.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47113271/man-accused-in-sky-murder-is-found/ |title=Man Accused in Sky Murder Is Found Hanged in Boston |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |newspaper=[[Corpus Christi Caller-Times]] |location=[[Corpus Christi, Texas]] |page=15 |date=November 1, 1970 |accessdate=March 21, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

The incident was the first aircraft hijacking in the United States to end with a fatality.<ref>Swidey</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Aviation|United States|1970s}}
* [[Federal Express Flight 705]] – 1994 incident involving a suicidal hijacker who was overpowered by an airline flight crew
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft]]
* [[List of aircraft hijackings]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|30em}}


==Further reading==
⚫
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1970}}{{aviation-accident-stub}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/20/magazine/you-dont-understand-captain-he-has-gun-hijacking-flight-1320/ |title='You don't understand, Captain. He has a gun': The hijacking of Flight 1320 |first=Neil |last=Swidey |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |url-access=limited |date=March 20, 2020 |accessdate=March 21, 2020}}
* {{cite book |title=Reluctant Hero: The Story of Eastern Airlines Flight 1320 |author=Wilbur III |first=Robert M. |year=2019 |publisher=Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp |isbn=978-1090674814}}


{{McDonnell Douglas DC-9 family}}
⚫
[[Category:1970 in Massachusetts]]
⚫
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1970}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in the 1970s}}
⚫
[[Category:1970 in Boston]]
[[Category:1970 murders in the United States]]
[[Category:1970 murders in the United States]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 1970]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 1970]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in North America in 1970]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in 1970]]
[[Category:March 1970 events]]
[[Category:March 1970 events in the United States]]
[[Category:Aircraft hijackings in the United States]]
[[Category:Aircraft hijackings in the United States]]
[[Category:Eastern Air Lines accidents and incidents|1320]]
[[Category:Eastern Air Lines accidents and incidents|1320]]
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[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Logan International Airport]]
[[Category:Logan International Airport]]
[[Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Hijackings in 1970]]

Latest revision as of 20:06, 21 August 2024

Eastern Air Lines Shuttle Flight 1320
The aircraft involved in the hijacking, while operating for Northwest Airlines in 2009
Hijack
DateMarch 17, 1970
SummaryAircraft hijacking
SiteBoston-Logan International Airport, MA, USA
Aircraft
Aircraft typeMcDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
OperatorEastern Air Lines
RegistrationN8925E
Flight originNewark Liberty International Airport, Newark NJ
DestinationLogan International Airport, Boston, MA
Passengers68
Crew5
Fatalities1
Injuries2
Survivors72

Eastern Air Lines Shuttle Flight 1320, carrying passengers from Newark to Boston, was hijacked around 7:30 p.m. on March 17, 1970, by John J. Divivo who was armed with a .38 caliber revolver.[1] Captain Robert Wilbur Jr., 35, a former United States Air Force pilot who had been promoted to captain six months prior was confronted by Divio, who ordered him to fly east and alert him when the plane was going to run out of fuel. But something startled the suicidal hijacker, who shot Wilbur in the arms. Despite his wounds and his copilot being shot and unconscious, Wilbur safely landed his aircraft while talking to air traffic control, telling them his copilot was shot and needed emergency services.

Wilbur: We're on 3100 and you better get the police at the airport. The copilot is shot. Get us in a hurry BOS.
Boston ATC: 1320, I gotcha, continue right inbound to the airport. You're 13 miles east, indent on code 04.
Wilbur: Ok, get-get an ambulance to the airport also. My copilot is discombobulated. He can't talk or anything. He's passed out. We've been shot. [2]

His copilot, James Hartley, 30, was shot and collapsed. Despite being mortally wounded, Hartley was able to force the gun from Divivo's hand and shoot the would-be hijacker three times before lapsing into unconsciousness, and eventual death. Despite his injuries, Divivo arose and began clawing at Captain Wilbur, attempting to force a crash. Wilbur hit Divivo over the head with the gun he had retrieved from the center console.[3] The pilot was able to land the plane safely at Logan International Airport, and the hijacker was arrested.[4] On October 31, 1970, Divivo hanged himself in Charles Street Jail while awaiting trial.[5][6]

The incident was the first aircraft hijacking in the United States to end with a fatality.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hijacking description at the Aviation Safety Network
  2. ^ "'You don't understand, Captain. He has a gun': The hijacking of Flight 1320". BostonGlobe.com. March 20, 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  3. ^ Tristani, J.P. (March 30, 2009). "One heck of an in-air gunfight on a civilian jet". Boston.com. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  4. ^ Walker, Adrian (March 20, 2009). "Friends in high places". Boston.com. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  5. ^ "Eastern Airlines Hijacking, 1970". CelebrateBoston.com.
  6. ^ "Man Accused in Sky Murder Is Found Hanged in Boston". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. AP. November 1, 1970. p. 15. Retrieved March 21, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Swidey

Further reading

[edit]
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