TWA Hijacker Released

On June 14, 1985, TWA Flight 847, flying with 145 passengers and nine crew members, was hijacked over the Mediterranean by Shiite Muslim militants, and started a two-week hostage standoff. The terrorist demanded the release of hundreds of Lebanese from Israeli jails. The last 39 passengers are eventually released in Damascus after being held in various locations over Beirut. One of the hijackers, Mohammed Ali Hamadi, was returned hometo Lebanon - under German parole - after serving 19 years of a life sentance.

The United States State Department is talking to the Lebanese government about getting Hamadi extradited to the United States."We have demonstrated over the years that when we believe an individual is responsible for the murder of innocent American civilians, that we will track them down and that we will bring them to justice in the United States," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. Currently, Hamadi is in temporary Lebanese custody.

At Hamadi's trial, a witness testified that when Stethem, one of the hostages complained about his bonds, Hamadi responded: "Let the pig suffer." He later killed that man, and reportedly bragged about killing that man. Stethem was the only passenger aboard to die; all the others were beaten.

Three of Hamadi's accomplices are still on the loose; Hassan Izz-Al-Din, Ali Atwa, and Imad Mughniyeh. Each have a $5 million bounty on their heads. Hezbollah is thought to be responsible for the attack, but the group denies the claims. (source)