Narrative:
Western Fight 407 was hijacked by a 21-year old man carrying a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol. He demanded to be taken to North Vietnam. After landing at Los Angeles, he ordered to be flown to Cuba. Eleven passengers were released. The plane then continued to Tampa for a refueling stop.
After 50 minutes on the ground at Tampa, the 737 departed for Havana, Cuba.
The hijacker carried the gun in a hollowed out book.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Friday 5 May 1972 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-200 |
| Operator: | Western Air Lines |
| Registration: | registration unknown |
| MSN: | |
| First flight: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 81 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Location: | Havana-José Martí International Airport (HAV) ( Cuba)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Salt Lake City International Airport, UT (SLC/KSLC), United States of America |
| Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America | |
| Flightnumber: | WA407 |
Western Fight 407 was hijacked by a 21-year old man carrying a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson pistol. He demanded to be taken to North Vietnam. After landing at Los Angeles, he ordered to be flown to Cuba. Eleven passengers were released. The plane then continued to Tampa for a refueling stop.
After 50 minutes on the ground at Tampa, the 737 departed for Havana, Cuba.
The hijacker carried the gun in a hollowed out book.
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Salt Lake City International Airport, UT to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 943 km (589 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Salt Lake City International Airport, UT to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 943 km (589 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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