Pilot gets jail time in hijack stunt

[Robb]

RAYONG, Thailand -- A Vietnamese-American pilot was sentenced Thursday to seven years and four months in jail for hijacking a small plane in Thailand and flying illegally over Vietnam to scatter anti-communist leaflets.

(snip)

Ly Tong, branded by Vietnam's government as a "dangerous international terrorist," has many admirers among Vietnamese who fled communist rule in their country.

(snip)

In 1992, he wrested control of a Vietnam Airlines jetliner that took off from Bangkok, Thailand, and forced the crew to fly him over Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.

Ly dumped 50,000 leaflets before jumping out a cockpit window and parachuting into the city. He was arrested and was sentenced in 1993 to 20 years in prison.

(snip)

In January 2000, he rented a plane in Miami and flew over Havana, showering Cuba's capital with leaflets calling for the ouster of President Fidel Castro.


(Mods: More than 4 paragraphs, but they're small, no?)

[Mairead]

1. He doesn't sound all that tightly wrapped.

[Robb]

2. Nope.

...But you've gotta admire his dedication. ;)

[Mika]

4. Did he lose his pilots license for filing a false flight plan..

.. for his little illegal leaflet drop over Havana?

In Miami? Ha!

[amber dog democrat]

3. and how was this helping?

I wonder what this accomplished.