West Germany: Justice for Flight 847

Justice for Flight 847

Four years ago, the world watched anxiously as TWA Flight 847 sat on a runway in Beirut airport and 39 American passengers were held hostage for 17 days by gunslinging hijackers. Among the most horrifying images in the intense TV coverage: the body of U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem, 23, being dumped onto the tarmac. Last week, after a ten-month trial, a Frankfurt court sentenced Lebanese-born Mohammed Ali Hammadi, 24, to life in prison for his role in the hijacking and Stethem's murder. Unable to determine whether Stethem was shot by Hammadi or a second hijacker, still at large, the court...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!