Negotiating with terrorists: TWA flight 847
- Washington, DC: Institute for the Diplomacy, Georgetown University, 1994
- 20p.
- Pew Case Studies in International Affairs Case 333 .
On June 14, 1985, a TWA airliner was hijacked. For 17 days, countries, organizations, and individuals tried to negotiate a peaceful settlement of the ensuing crisis. The hijacking directly involved U.S. President Ronald Reagan, officials of his administration, and foreign leaders. Although this case study focuses primarily on U.S. decision-makers and the negotiating process, it also presents the interests of other participants, including the terrorists. It examines the removal of the hostages from the plane in Beirut, breakdowns in the negotiations, factionalism among the terrorist groups, deadlines, the shadow of the use of U.S. military force, and the intensity of international press coverage.