In 1978 , Kavaja and SOPO companions numbering over one hundred ( including Stojiljko Kajević ) were arrested in New York City by U.S. law enforcement officials . Kavaja was released on $ 250,000 bail , and after visiting his family in New York City , on June 20 , 1979 he hijacked an American Airlines 727 ( Flight 293 from New York City to Chicago ) . He planned to demand Kajević 's release and then fly to a destination of Kajević 's choosing . When he realized that Kajević would not be released , he let the plane 's passengers go , retaining only the pilot , co-pilot and flight engineer . In an odd twist , included in this group was his own lawyer Deyan Rasha Brashich that took the place of the Hostages . David Lenevsky , who is the same attorney used by renowned Serbian-American crime lord Vojislav Stanimirović for the Vizcaya Heist case . He forced the crew to fly back from Chicago to JFK Airport in New York City . There , he transferred to a larger plane ( a Boeing 707 ) and demanded to be taken to Johannesburg , South Africa . On the advice of his lawyer David Lenevsky he flew to Ireland , which he was told did not have an extradition agreement with the United States . Hoping for political asylum , Kavaja surrendered in Shannon , Ireland with attorney Deyan Ranko Brashich and Kavaja was returned to America to again face a criminal trial
Flight 293
American Airlines Flight 293
Nikola Kavaja