Patrick Argüello
Nicaraguan-American hijacker (1943–1970) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Patricio José Argüello Ryan (March 30, 1943 – September 6, 1970), commonly referred to simply as Patrick Argüello, was a Nicaraguan-American Marxist–Leninist militant. He was a member of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), and is best-known for his unsuccessful hijacking of El Al Flight 219 alongside Palestinian militant Leila Khaled on September 6, 1970. Flight 219 was an international civilian passenger flight from Tel Aviv to New York City that was hijacked by the duo shortly after it took off from a stopover in Amsterdam. Argüello and Khaled, acting on part of a larger series of hijackings by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), ultimately failed to take control of the plane due to heavy resistance from the passengers and security, who subdued the duo after pilot Uri Bar-Lev had thrown them off balance by putting the plane into a steep nosedive.[1] Bar-Lev then made an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport in London, where Argüello was shot multiple times, later succumbing to his injuries. The FSLN had agreed to support the PFLP's hijackings in exchange for guerrilla warfare training.[2]
Patricio José Argüello Ryan | |
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Born | March 30, 1943 San Francisco, California, United States |
Died | September 6, 1970(1970-09-06) (aged 27) London, England, United Kingdom |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | UCLA |
Years active | 1960s–1970 |
Employer | Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine |
Known for | Failed hijacking of Israel's El Al Flight 219 in September 1970 |
Political party | Sandinista National Liberation Front |
Children | 3 (alleged by Leila Khaled) |