In 1970, Palestinian terrorists landed three hijacked aircraft (originally en route from Europe) in the Jordanian desert. AP / Wide World Photos

It was commonly reported that 9/11 was the first time that hijackers had been able to simultaneously take over four planes. That is not the case; there had been an earlier quadruple hijacking. I think it tells a great deal about the difference in media coverage today that even students of history simply forgot that four airplanes had been simultaneously hijacked before. In 1970, Palestinian groups hijacked four commercial airliners headed from Europe to the United States. One of the hijackings was not successful—the hijackers were overwhelmed. The other three planes were eventually brought down by the hijackers in a remote area of Jordan. Hundreds of passengers, most of them Europeans and Americans, were held hostage for several weeks.

Limitations in communications technology and the refusal of government leaders to be preoccupied by the crisis helped to prevent overcoverage of the 1970 hijackings.

The hijackers had wanted to gain the release of some of their comrades from various prisons. Without pressure from the media, Nixon and the European leaders were able to simply go about their business. The hijackers released the majority of their hostages without receiving concessions. I think the hijackers' failure to realize their media-centered goals stemmed largely from the lack of the technological means to make the incident a major media event. Ultimately, Germany, Switzerland, and Great Britian agreed to free several Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. The United States was not involved in this exchange.