On September 6 , 1970 , Khaled and Patrick Argüello , a Nicaraguan – American , attempted to hijack El Al Flight 219 from Amsterdam to New York City as part of the Dawson 's Field hijackings , a series of almost simultaneous hijackings carried out by the PFLP . The attack was foiled , when Israeli skymarshals killed Argüello before eventually overpowering Khaled . Although she was carrying two hand grenades at the time , Khaled said she had received very strict instructions not to threaten passengers on the civilian flight . Argüello had shot a member of the flight crew
Dawson 's Field hijackings
Dawson's Field hijackings
Leila Khaled