Achille Lauro Hijacking / Egypt Air 737 - F-14 Tomcat Intercept told by Capt. Roe 'Skid' Massey

Capt. Roe "Skid" Massey, for the first time publicly, shares his account of the intercept of the Egyptian Air 737 carrying the Achille Lauro Cruise Ship Hijackers and the forced landing in Sigonella, Italy in October 1985.

The Achille Lauro hijacking took place on 7 October 1985, when the Italian ocean liner MS Achille Lauro was hijacked by four men representing the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) off the coast of Egypt, as she was sailing from Alexandria to Ashdod, Israel. A 69-year-old Jewish American man in a wheelchair, Leon Klinghoffer, was murdered by the hijackers and thrown overboard. The hijacking sparked the "Sigonella Crisis".

[damkayaker]

Great to hear this! I remember when President Reagan made the announcement that the hijackers were in custody. It was a very emotional moment. I'll never forget it. God bless you all!

[hammertime]

I was a very young Marine at the time, I was so swollen with Pride when I learned of YOUR heroic night....it changed my opinion of my Navy brothers from that day forward. Thank You Sir.

[georgemallory]

This was fantastic. Such an important piece of history during my first year of college. This gentleman is exactly the type of Tomcat driver I envision pulling something like this off. Top notch.

[ephesiansbrowne]

I was in VAW-125. CDR Zia was my skipper in 1985. Proudest moment of my military career! Thank you so much for this story.

[frankkessler]

Thanks for sharing this VERY non routine flight you experienced on what was to be just a routine intercept as a Navy carrier pilot.... Absolutely amazing... Thanks for your service Roe...

[ruger]

What a great journey to bring us on! Thank you & thank you for your service💛💙

[jeffkersey]

This kind of story is that will inspire the next generation of young Americans to serve. Thank you, Sir!

[danabergman]

Hello Captain Massey wondering if you remember me I was the leading petty officer of VF 103 Intel, intelligence specialist second class Dana Bergman and produced the Tarps photos. After leaving the Squadron I pursued and acquired my Airline transport pilot's license and flew for the regional Airlines. Although I did not adapt well within the Squadron I still have very fond and proud memories of our time together aboard Saratoga. I wish I could go back and do it all again all these years later.

[beast]

Great story! I was there attached to VF-74 your sister squadron. I was working night shift and I remember the ship turning around and hauling ass south launching the alert aircraft.

[HomeImProveMentHow]

Excellent story thanks for sharing, And thanks for your service.

[thecatdaddy]

I was around 10 when this happened, I learned alot today listening to this.

[FrancisCJtest]

Skid, thanks for sharing this. Excellent briefing on the incident! I was on the LSO platform; yet never heard all the details... "Potsie"

[davidmcdade]

Wow, simple civilian here that just had my admiration for our military personnel increase tenfold. You men and women of the armed forces are simply amazing and transcend courage and valor.

[johnhebbe]

Three years on the Saratoga flying SPADS. One crash involving three Crusaders. Even that didn’t seem as exciting as this. Of course, my flight time that night was 0.1 with a water landing. Yours was a great story. Well delivered.

[nsw]

Great review of the situation. I got the debrief from the ground element of SEALs on those 141's. Interesting to hear the air side of the story..

[stevethomas]

Cdr. Zia was the skipper of VAW 120 when I went through. I also heard a lot of the stories when I was at NASSIG. Crazy stories.

[AIM_Phoenix]

I have been wondering for DECADES if the pilots from Saratoga were ever going to give their side of the story! I wish I were at this presentation! There are so many questions I have since I did a lot of work on this back then.

[neillouwrens]

What a find! We actually sailed on the Achille Lauro the next cruise after it returned to commission, to Mauritius and the Seychelles Islands. I recall bullet holes on the roof and walls on one floor. Otherwise the cruise was fine.

[RWBHere]

I knew that ship, and saw it a number of times between 1969 and 1971, when it was ferrying immigrants from England to Australia. Some family friends travelled there on it, and we saw their arrival at Sydney, Circular Quay.

[PS-rtef]

I was on the ship USS Saratoga that night. I worked in the OM division. I remember being in the catwalk, that evening, headed to
the port side sea sparrow missle lauching deck. Your Tomcat was taking off when I was on my way
to my workstation. I remember how proud everyone was that we were not going to sit back and let
someone kill an American the way they did. I also remember President Reagan giving everyone "that a boys"
over the ship wide announcement system.