Hijacked TWA Plane Is Flown Back to U.S.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Trans World Airlines jetliner that was hijacked in June, beginning the 17-day Lebanon hostage crisis, was returned to the United States Wednesday.
The Boeing 727 was commandeered by hijackers as it left Athens on June 14, en route to Rome. The last 39 of the 153 hostages were released on June 30.
The plane stayed in Beirut until a release could be negotiated by the U.S. government, TWA, Middle East Airlines and the Lebanese government, TWA spokesman Larry Hilliard said.
The covers of many of the seats were ripped and torn, and evidence of more graffiti, faded from scrubbing, appeared on many window shades and luggage compartments.
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