Lot 474
NETHERLANDS: 1973, 'Crash Cover' sent from "NORDEN 19.VII.73" to Tokyo. The cover was carried on Japan Airlines flight 404 from Amsterdam to Tokyo. The aircraft, Boing 747-246B with 123 passengers and 22 crew members was highjacked by a member of the Japanese Red Army and four members of the Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine shortly after take-off from Schiphol. The plane was re-directed to Dubai and after several days further to Damascus and then Benghazi in Lybia where after the passengers and crew members were released. The hijackers blew-up the aircraft. This sole letter survived and was delivered to the recipient in Tokyo with a formal letter of the Tokyo airport post master. A highly interesting item of air mail postal history.
