[MineralMan]

Go here:

http://www.geocities.com/khlim777_my/ashijack.htm

Scroll down the page for a list of airplane hijackings since 1970. There aren't many.

Incidentally, this hijacking, in 1987, was the most recent hijacking prior to the 9/11 hijacking. Hijackings are really, really rare.

[quidnunc]

It's not the hijacking that is the worry now; it's the blowing out of the sky with concealed explosives.

A hijacker who tried to take over a plane these days would be lucky to escape with his life after the rest of the passengers got through with him.

[spald]

from the link:"A USAir employee who was recently fired, forged his way into a Pacific Southwest Airline BAE 146 near San Luis Obispo, California. He killed his former manager and both the pilots. A total of 5 crew members and 37 passengers were killed in this incident."

I'm not convinced this is a hijacking. Sounds more like worker rage to me. Look at the descriptions of each event listed on the link. All instances contain the classifying word "hijacking" except this one, which is not described as a hijacking.

You are right, hijackings are rare. And even more rare still when Americans are involved.