European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 13, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Triumph Over terrorists  Ridge 11 and details were being received about the scrambling of he f-14s he was quieter. Less ebullient a presidential aide recalled of the flight Back to Washington. The aircraft that took off from the Saratoga included tour f-14 lighters that had rehearsed their close winged approach to the civilian jetliner As Well As three additional f-14s. An e-2c radar intelligence plane and Tanker aircraft to Cluel Tho Lorce during its five hours of action. It was being closely tracked by a team of administration officials working in the situation room in the while House basement under the direction of Mcfarland s Deputy. Vice adm. John m. Poindexter. The Saratoga had been cruising at night near the Peloponnesus when the president s initial order arrived and had to come about into the wind Lor the aircraft launch. In formation above the Mediterranean the planes were ordered to operate in total darkness in total silence according to Navy Secretary John f. Lehman or. After wailing More than three hours the planes aided by extensive radar information spotted the egyptian 737 visually at 5 30 . Not at 34.25 degrees North latitude and 25 degrees East Longitude. This was 80 Miles South of Crete. They trailed it without announcing themselves and the jetliner gave no indication that it was aware of the surveillance according to Pentagon officials. The f-14 Lorce monitored radio transmissions As the Lelline sought and was denied permission to land at Tunis then Athens. Finally the order was passed to the fighters to turn on their running lights and confront the jetliner by radio and Shepherd it to the nato base at Simonella. In Sicily. One crucial question that administration officials would not answer definitively was whether the planes had been prepared to fire on the jetliner if the order were resisted. That s for them to go to bed every night  Reagan said on Friday speaking of the incident As a lesson for any potential future terrorists. The f-14s were equipped with 20-millimeter  and air to air missiles and they could have fired bursts of Bright tracer rounds in the darkness to impress the Pilot of the unarmed civilian plane. But such action proved unnecessary Pentagon officials said As the Pilot acceded soon after four f 14s approached nearly Wing to Wing. No shots were fired. They would accept the escort so to speak defense Secretary Caspar w. Weinberger said summarizing a moment of great Relief 6 10 . Not. As the message was relayed to the situation room. The jetliner and ill escort landed at the Sicily base at 6 45 . Not. It was instantly surrounded by troops from the base which is near the City of Catania. A period of confusion followed involving american and italian of Licals. According to administration officials. Heavy air cover could be seen with planes circling the Field according to one officer on duty at the Lime and from time to time the jetliner was Lowed from one Point to another As if to protect against potentially unfriendly interlopers. Shortly after 11 . Thursday in Washington the while House confirmed the Mission and said it had achieved the president s goal to see the terrorists brought to custody in order to face charges for the hijacking of the cruise ship. Larry Speakes. The president s spokesman summarized the Mission and Reagan s role in it. He approved the escalation of it As events warranted Speakes said. It was just the right application of .  Reagan toy was evid it when he paraphrased Joe Louis the boxing Champion in contending that terrorists henceforth will know you can run but you can t  by midday Friday 24 hours after the president made his decision at the cake factory in Illinois administration officials were discussing a new concern the incident s effect on relations with Egypt. Diplomacy not midair confrontation was the new Mission at the White House. . Officials had been tracking the terrorists in Egypt even As egyptian officials including president Hosni Mubarak himself continued to contend publicly that the hijackers had already left Egypt. Speakes said the president nevertheless wished to emphasize that he did not consider relations with Egypt to have been severely damaged. These have been trying  Speakes said. Terrorists were Hill in egyptian custody at president Hosni Mubarak was telling press they had left Egypt. Egypt air b-737 jetliner carrying terrorists after being intercepted by Navy f \4s from Carrier Saratoga and ferae1 chronology of u associated press Here is a chronology provided by Pentagon officials of events surrounding the interception and forced Landing of the egyptian b-737 Jet Airliner carrying the palestinian hijackers of the italian cruise ship Achille Lauro last thursday Early Friday Central european time Lale morning not . Officials learn that the hijackers Are still in Egypt contrary to a statement by egyptian president Hosni Mubarak that they have left. Early afternoon not indications Are received from intelligence sources that the hijackers Are going to leave on a commercial plane presumably to Tunis Tunisia where the Palestine liberation organization is headquartered. Approximately 1 30p.m. Not president Reagan after being briefed by National Security adviser Robert Mcfarlane while on a trip to he Chicago area gives general. In principle approval to an intercept Mission. It is relayed to military commanders through the office of the joint chiefs of staff in Washington. 2 15 . Edt the aircraft Carrier Saratoga steaming in the Adriatic sea for a port Call in Dubrovnik Yugoslavia reverses direction and launches f-14 fighters tankers and an e-2c Hawkeye radar plane. The planes Fly 150 Miles to the Vicinity of the planned intercept. 80 Miles South of Crete. 4 15p.m. Edt chartered egyptian b-737 leaves a Cairo area Airport with the tour hijackers two palestinian arabs including Mohammed Abu Abbas head of the Palestine liberation front the terrorist Page 14 the stars and stripes group Allied with the Plo to which the hijackers claimed to belong and four egyptian escorts. A few minutes later. Reagan in route Back to Washington aboard Alf Force one gives his staff the go ahead for an intercept attempt. 4 37p.m. Edt the intercept order is sent through the Pentagon Chain of command. About the same time White House chief of staff Donald t. Regan arriving Back at the White House with the president says . Officials Don t know where the hijackers Are located. Reagan goes to the White House physician s office to have a skin cancer removed from his nose. 5 30 . Not four f 14s identify and intercept the Airliner but Fly under blackout conditions and do not Tot their presence be known. Egyptian Pilot asks permission to land in Tunis but it is denied. Pilot makes same request of greek authorities and also is denied. The egyptian foreign ministry claimed that the interception occurred As the plane was heading Back to Cairo alter being denied Landing rights at Tunis . Planes then identify themselves and order the Airliner to accompany them to the .-italian nato naval air station at Simonella Sicily. 6 10 . Edt the egyptian Pilot agreeing to the demand estimates his arrival at Simonella at 6 55 . 6 45p.m. Edt egyptian Airliner lands at Simonella and hijackers and other palestinians Are taken int custody. 8 22p.m. Edt last Navy plane in the Mission lands on the Saratoga which resumes its journey to Dubrovnik. Sunday. Al