For much of the socialist period , the United States was a haven for many Serbian anti-communists living outside Yugoslavia . On 20 June 1979 , a Serbian nationalist named Nikola Kavaja hijacked American Airlines Flight 293 from New York City with the intention of crashing the Boeing 707 into League of Communists of Yugoslavia headquarters in Belgrade . The aircraft , however , landed in Shannon , Ireland , where Kavaja were arrested
American Airlines Flight 293
American Airlines Flight 293
Serbia–United States relations