Samuel Byck

Samuel Joseph Byck (January 30, 1930 – February 22, 1974) was an unemployed tire salesman who attempted to hijack a plane from Baltimore-Washington International Airport on February 22, 1974. He intended to crash into the White House in hopes of killing U.S. President Richard M. Nixon.

The assassination attempt

In early 1974, Byck made his decision to assassinate Nixon. He chose to do so by hijacking an airliner and crashing it into the White House on a day when Nixon would be there (as September 11 terrorist attacks). Since Byck was already known to the Secret Service, and because legal attempts to purchase a firearm might have resulted in increased scrutiny, Byck stole a .22 caliber revolver from a friend of his to use in the hijacking. Byck also made a bomb out of 2 gallon jugs of gasoline and an igniter. All through this process, Byck made 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.

Related Topics:
Airliner - September 11 terrorist attacks - Firearm - .22 caliber - Revolver - Gallon - Gasoline

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On February 22, 1974, Byck drove to the Baltimore/Washington International Airport. He shot and killed Maryland Aviation Administration Police Officer Neal Ramsburg before storming aboard a DC-9, Delta Air Lines Flight 523 to Atlanta, which he chose because it was the closest flight that was ready to take off. After the pilots told him they could not take off until wheel blocks were removed, he shot both pilots, then grabbed a nearby passenger and ordered her to "fly the plane". After a standoff with police, an officer on the jetway, who had been waiting for a chance to intervene, managed to fire a shot through the door of the aircraft with a .357 Magnum revolver taken from the dead officer. The shot, which managed to penetrate the thick window of the aircraft door, hit Byck and seriously wounded him. Before the police could gain entry to the aircraft, Byck committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. According to a special on the History Channel, he lived for a few minutes after the bullet to the head, finally dying after saying "help me" to one of the police officers who entered the plane after he had been shot. A briefcase containing the gasoline bomb was found under his body. The plane never left the gate, and Nixon's schedule was not affected by Byck's assassination attempt.

Related Topics:
February 22 - 1974 - DC-9 - Delta Air Lines - Atlanta - Jetway - .357 Magnum - Suicide - History Channel - Briefcase

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