Terror in Black September: The First Eyewitness Account of the Infamous 1970 Hijackings

by David Raab

On Sunday, September 6, 1970, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) hijacked four airliners bound from Europe for New York. One, a brand new Pan Am 747, was taken to Cairo and blown up only seconds after its passengers escaped. The attempt to hijack a second plane, an El Al flight, was foiled and the plane landed safely in the UK. Two other planes, one TWA and one Swissair, were directed to the desert floor thirty-five miles northeast of Amman, Jordan, where a twenty-five day hostage drama began. With the additional hijacking of a British airliner, over four hundred and fifty hostages had landed in the Jordanian desert. David Raab was on the TWA flight with his mother and siblings but was separated from them and taken to a refugee camp and then to an apartment in Amman where he was held hostage through a civil war. This is his story.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Middle East, Terrorism, True Crime

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great account of a very specific and time-limited historical event. He does a nice job telling the personal story of being a hostage but also a lot of historical and political and diplomatic detail. I read it after reading “My Hijacking,” which is an account of the same hijacking from the retrospective view of a now-historian who was a 12-year-old unaccompanied minor on the same flight.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terror in Black September is a compelling read of events from 50+ years ago. Raab’s memories are fascinating to read. It’s a politically balanced view as well. Worth the read.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating look at the 1970 hijackings. I knew about the hijackings since my mother worked for BOAC during that time and had told me about the phone calls she'd fielded from relatives of the hostages, and I knew that the planes had been blown up in the middle of the desert. There was, however, so much more I hadn't known. I didn't know that some of the hostages were held for three weeks or that a civil war had broken out in Jordan with the hostages right in the middle of it. This book was definitely educational in that respect. I also found it interesting that in several cases the hostages and their 'keepers' built up a rapport based on the observation that the hostages were to be kept alive.

I particularly liked the format of the book. While it is particularly indepth at times, particularly in relation to the negotiations, it is broken up into easily readable sections.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does what it sets out to do, and is a splendid achievement in its own way. I have always been curious about the period around 1970 when hijackings were a recurrent nightmare. This books tells the history of the four simultaneous hijackings by Palestinian terrorists, and how the hostages got caught up in the civil war in Jordan.
The narrator has been able to use de-classified government material and has researched the period extensively. In spite of the even-handed approach, this remains a very personal account. The author was 16 at the time, and tried to keep to a kosher diet during his incarceration. A welcome addition to the genre, and the sources are listed on a separate website.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always interesting to read an eyewitness account of an historical event. David Raab was 17 when his plan was hijacked and taken to Jordan. He writes about the events from day to day, from his perspective and the perspective of some of the other hostages. His description of the inept negotiations, the discord between the representatives of the concerned nations and the inability of the Red Cross to provide effective humanitarian relief were particularly disturbing. It must have been terrifying to not only be a hostage but to be in the middle of a civil war.
The only complaint I have is that his transitions from narrative to quoting documents or other sources were sometimes a little rough and occasionally jumped around in the timeline without explanation.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be fascinating but also an important read. I have a professional relationship with the author, so it gave me a rare glimpse into a colleague's personal story. We are approximately the same age and the contrast between his life at 17 and mine at 17 is stark, and I couldn't help but reflect on that difference as I read. The book also gave me reason to pause and think about the details of captives - beyond the headlines - that I have never before considered. David's account is a story of resilience and courage, supported by a foundation of faith, that is as current now as it was over forty years ago.

[Beakerkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book to read if you are a commuter. It is fast paced and easy on the reader. It is actually lighter in tone than one would think given the topic. In one or two places there were even comedic points.

If you are looking for an all engrossing book make another selection. If you are looking for a book that holds your attention, but can be read in short bursts of 20 minutes it is excellent.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fall 2007. Non-fiction. My wife, Laurie, grabbed this one from the "New" section in the library and handed it to me. It looked interesting so I checked it out. This book is the true story behind the 1970 hijackings of 3 (almost 4) planes. The author, David Raab, was a 17 year old hostage who's journal entries during the crisis are inserted throuought the book.

[Foxglove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book, brilliant discussion of terrorism and a great personal story.