Hijacking: a guide for survival

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 24

Hijacking: a guide for survival

Three thousand air travellers have been involved in hijacking around the world since the beginning of last year. Now two British writers have produced a survival guide which might very well prove as valuable on your next overseas trip as your passport and toothbrush. "How to Survive a Hijack” is a chilling article written by Christopher Dobson and Ronald Payne and recently published in a London travel magazine. The writers say that in drafting the code of behaviour which should en“The usual drill—passengers to ‘Transit’ and hijackers to ‘lmmigration’.”

By

LES BLOXHAM,

travel editor of “The Press”

sure survival, they studied hijackings, the behaviour of passengers and terrorists, and consulted psychologists. “We do not promise an easy time, but there are ways and means of making captivity less harrowing,” they said. Their advice covers what to do before boarding the aircraft, behaviour during a hijack, and how to get over the experience. The information is always practical. “Dress in casual, comfortable clothes,” they say, “not just because hijacks tend to take place in hot countries, but because it helps you merge with the crowd. When terrorists look around for a victim to murder in order to prove their ruthlessness, they tend to pick out the conspicuous— the man with

the vicuna coat who is, to them, a capitalist pig and therefore an enemy worthy of death.

“To fight the long afid stultifying hours of boredom between the short periods of danger, be sure to have something to do: paperbacks, crossword puzzles, miniature chess, a pack of cards,” the writers say. “Nothing is more conducive to panic than to allow a completely unoccupied mind to dwell on the dangers of the situation, and panic leads to death. “Forget any thought of heroics,” they warn. “The terrorists are fanatics and have been trained to cope with amateurs. Try to establish rapport with the terrorists for that is a lifeline. They tend not to shoot once some sort of

relationship has been established. Also, be prepared for the physical horrors of over-flowing toilets, heat, dysentery, and sickness.”

Dobson and Payne urge the importance of moving calmly at all times, of asking permission of the terrorists, and of making sure they understand what you want to do. “If fellow passengers show signs of hysteria, try to calm them. Hysteria could be the trigger to disaster. “If commandos attack to free you, do exactly what they say. During' the assaults at Entebbe. Mogadishu, and on the Dutch train held by the South Moluccans, the only hostage casualties were those who did not follow the instructions of the rescuing forces.” The article concludes: “It is a sad reflection on the state of the world that we should have to give this advice. But that’s the way it is — remember, above all, stay cool.”