HIJACKINGS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01439R000500080005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 10, 2001
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 1, 1970
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2001/11/22 : CIA-RDP80BO1439R000500080005-6
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant Deputy Director
for Intelligence
SUBJECT Hijackings
1. A review of the hijacking problem--with a special
look at the question of vulnerability of US citizens to
becoming hostages--leads to the conclusion that the overall
situation remains serious. The number one problem, of
course, is still the fedayeen. Our Middle East analysts
believe that the likelihood of hijackings by
will remain high for the foreseeable future.
some conspicuous trouble spots convenient for fedaveen ex-
2. Under US prodding, many friendly governments have
instituted strict security precautions, but there are still
ploitation.
3. The lik.ihood of being hijacked in Latin America
is probably as great today as in the past, and there is no
reason to believe that the threat will diminish over the
next several months. The presence of air marshals and the
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increased security precautions at US airports help to
reduce the possibilities of hijacking on US carriers
operating from the US, but just how much this will achieve
over the long run is difficult to determine. We do not
know at this time to what extent guards are being used on
US flights to Latin America.
4. Hijacking will probably continue to be a popular
device for Latin American terrorists to gain publicity and
to free prisoners. The danger of being hijacked on local
carriers, therefore, remains high and might even increase.
The various countries are stepping up their security pre-
5. Most Far East countries have taken measures to
prevent hijacking, but precautions thus far are generally
less stringent than elsewhere. Pan Am, TWA, BOAC, Swiss
Air and most large carriers have instituted fairly elaborate
procedures for international flights stopping at the major
terminals in the area, but local officials in most Far East
countries seem to believe that hijacking attempts are much
more likely to occur in the Middle East or Europe.
RICHARD LEHMAN
Director of Current Intelligence
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