Samuel Byck
Besides being Washington's birthday, February 22nd was also the anniversary of an attempted assassination of Richard Nixon that occurred in 1974 (38 years and 3 days ago today). Samuel Byck, an unemployed former tire salesman, attempted to hijack a plane flying out of Baltimore-Washington International Airport on February 22, 1974. He intended to crash into the White House in the hope of killing U.S. President Richard Nixon.
In early 1974, Byck decided to assassinate Nixon and planned to do so by hijacking an airliner and crashing it into the White House on a day when Nixon would be there. Some historians have suggested that Byck was inspired by news reports of the February 17, 1974 buzzing of the White House by Army PFC Robert K. Preston in a stolen helicopter.
Byck stole a .22 caliber revolver from a friend of his to use in the hijacking. He made a bomb out of 2 gallon jugs of gasoline and audio recordings explaining his motives and his plans. He expected to be considered a hero for his actions, and wanted to fully document his reasons for the assassination.
On February 22, 1974, Byck drove to the Baltimore/Washington International Airport. He shot and killed Maryland Aviation Administration Police Officer George Neal Ramsburg and then stormed aboard a DC-9, Delta Air Lines Flight 523 to Atlanta. He chose that plane because it was the closest flight that was ready to take off. After pilots Reese (Doug) Loftin and Fred Jones told him they could not take off until wheel blocks were removed, he shot them both, killing Jones (Loftin survived). Byck grabbed a nearby passenger, ordering her to "fly the plane." Byck told a flight attendant to close the door or he would blow up the plane. Police officers attempted to shoot out the tires of the aircraft in order to prevent it from taking off. However, the .38 caliber bullets fired from the Smith & Wesson revolvers issued to the officers at that time period failed to penetrate the tires of the aircraft and instead ricocheted off, some hitting the wing of the aircraft.
After a standoff with police, Charles Troyer, a county police officer, stormed the plane and fired four shots through the aircraft door at Byck with a .357 Magnum revolver. Two of the shots penetrated the thick window of the aircraft door and wounded Byck. Before the police could gain entry to the aircraft, Byck committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
Byck had sent a tape recording detailing his plan, which he called "Operation Pandora's Box", to news columnist Jack Anderson. The media reported on Byck's actions, they did not disclose the reason why Byck attempted to hijack the plane for fear that it might inspire copycat crimes. A movie based on his story, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, was released in 2004. The film starred Sean Penn as Bicke (the surname spelling was changed.) The History Channel also ran a special on Byck entitled The Plot to Kill Nixon.
In early 1974, Byck decided to assassinate Nixon and planned to do so by hijacking an airliner and crashing it into the White House on a day when Nixon would be there. Some historians have suggested that Byck was inspired by news reports of the February 17, 1974 buzzing of the White House by Army PFC Robert K. Preston in a stolen helicopter.
Byck stole a .22 caliber revolver from a friend of his to use in the hijacking. He made a bomb out of 2 gallon jugs of gasoline and audio recordings explaining his motives and his plans. He expected to be considered a hero for his actions, and wanted to fully document his reasons for the assassination.
On February 22, 1974, Byck drove to the Baltimore/Washington International Airport. He shot and killed Maryland Aviation Administration Police Officer George Neal Ramsburg and then stormed aboard a DC-9, Delta Air Lines Flight 523 to Atlanta. He chose that plane because it was the closest flight that was ready to take off. After pilots Reese (Doug) Loftin and Fred Jones told him they could not take off until wheel blocks were removed, he shot them both, killing Jones (Loftin survived). Byck grabbed a nearby passenger, ordering her to "fly the plane." Byck told a flight attendant to close the door or he would blow up the plane. Police officers attempted to shoot out the tires of the aircraft in order to prevent it from taking off. However, the .38 caliber bullets fired from the Smith & Wesson revolvers issued to the officers at that time period failed to penetrate the tires of the aircraft and instead ricocheted off, some hitting the wing of the aircraft.
After a standoff with police, Charles Troyer, a county police officer, stormed the plane and fired four shots through the aircraft door at Byck with a .357 Magnum revolver. Two of the shots penetrated the thick window of the aircraft door and wounded Byck. Before the police could gain entry to the aircraft, Byck committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.
Byck had sent a tape recording detailing his plan, which he called "Operation Pandora's Box", to news columnist Jack Anderson. The media reported on Byck's actions, they did not disclose the reason why Byck attempted to hijack the plane for fear that it might inspire copycat crimes. A movie based on his story, The Assassination of Richard Nixon, was released in 2004. The film starred Sean Penn as Bicke (the surname spelling was changed.) The History Channel also ran a special on Byck entitled The Plot to Kill Nixon.