Mira Slovak, whom since an early on trip pilot during the 1953 escaped Communist Czechoslovakia from the hijacking his own commercial trip in order to Western Germany, passed away to your June 16 during the their family into the Fallbrook, Calif. Slovak, whom continued in order to become a good hydroplane racing champion, an excellent stunt flyer and a flight airplane pilot, is 84.

The source try stomach cancers, told you David Williams, the fresh new exec manager of Hydroplane and Raceboat Art gallery when you look at the Kent, Clean. Williams had interviewed Slovak several times lately for a beneficial structured biography.

Slovak, up coming inside the very early 20s, was the brand new master regarding a Czechoslovak Air companies DC-step 3 whenever, on the nights March 23, 1953, the guy and a few anybody else onboard achieved the fresh hijacking. They’d invested months planning they.

Immediately following takeoff, with over 20 individuals agreeable, Slovak secured his co-pilot out of the cockpit. Then took the fresh airplane to your a-sharp plunge to aid subdue other people in order to miss the airplane to help you less than 1,000 feet, in which radar would not place they.

The latest flat, scheduled to fly away from Prague so you’re able to Brno, Czechoslovakia, landed on an armed forces feet inside the Frankfurt around an hour afterwards. Continue reading →