CNO Awards Achille Lauro Intercept Medals 1985

Chief of Naval Operations visits USS Saratoga CV-60 to present Achille Lauro Intercept Awards 1985.

The Achille Lauro hijacking happened on October 7, 1985, when the Italian MS Achille Lauro cruise ship was hijacked by four men representing the Palestine Liberation Front 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".

INTERCEPTION OF EGYPT AIR JET.- Upon learning of the murder of a U.S. citizen, fearing the escape of the hijackers, and desiring a victory over terrorism, the Reagan administration ordered the Egypt Air passenger jet to be forced to land so the perpetrators could be brought to justice.

A desire for successful assertive action against terrorism in the Reagan administration was further spurred by the memory of the political cost borne by President Jimmy Carter for a lack of the same (his inability to free American hostages seized by student demonstrators in Iran was held to been a major factor in his failed 1980 reelection bid).

After listening to the idea of intercepting the Egypt Air jet, Reagan approved the operation in principle in what was called the "Sara Lee decision".

Communications for planning began between the Pentagon, U.S. military headquarters in Europe, and the Navy's Sixth Fleet. Progress on difficulties (such as how to force the airliner to land or if weapons could be fired in warning) proceeded quickly.

The final go-ahead was given by Reagan late that afternoon while returning to Washington on Air Force One. Orders were sent across the Atlantic to the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga and her aircraft made ready for the intercept.

On October 10, 1985, the four hijackers boarded an Egypt Air Boeing 737 with Abu Abbas. The flight was set to fly to Tunisia, which was where the PLF headquarters were located.

SEARCH FOR FLIGHT 2843 - The Saratoga was the flagship of a Sixth Fleet taskforce commanded by Rear Admiral David E. Jeremiah. Late in the evening, orders were issued from commander of the Sixth Fleet, Vice Admiral Frank Kelso to intercept the Egypt Air aircraft with its hijacker aboard.

INTERCEPTION - Unknowingly being shadowed by US NAVY Tomcats, the Egypt Air sought permission to land at Tunis but was refused. A request land at Athens was also refused.

US NAVY aircraft using a VHF frequency demanded the Boeing 737
to divert to Sigonella, Italy. When the Egypt Air pilot refused to comply, the TOMCATS turned on their exterior lights. With the illumination of the American aircraft, the Egyptian pilot suddenly realized he was surrounded by warplanes. It was further discovered that the negotiator, Abbas, had actually been the mastermind behind the hijacking.