Talk:Ansett Australia Flight 232

First hijacking?

The article currently states that this is the first hijacking in Australia. Trans Australia Airlines hijacking is also claiming the same.--Lester 23:56, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

Corrected. –Moondyne 13:07, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

Cause-of-death suckage

   I haven't checked the sources, but the statement that he was shot once by the police and once by himself, and was found to have died of "self-inflicted wounds" requires readers to decide whether it's WP or the AU authorities who suck, or both. We should figure which is the case, and at least ameliorate that by citing the sources that

1. disagree with each other on this, or
2. (similarly to us) either write stupidly or wink at institutional incompetence.
   --Jerzy•t 07:20, 22 July 2014 (UTC)
   

Okay. According to the article in The Oz, he was wounded during the gun battle, retreated to a ditch and then shot himself. There is no mention of his fake surrender there. If there is another account please add that detail. Keep in mind this is the early 70s and it's the Northern Territory. I'm guessing the guns used by the cops weren't overly accurate nor rapid firing. Tigerman2005 (talk) 06:16, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Motive

The article is confusing. It seems to imply a hijack with no mention of motive. Looking at the article in The Oz (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/time-capsule-hijack-in-alice-springs/story-e6frg8h6-1111114839655 - the link at the bottom of the page doesn't work) it seems his motive was to kill himself in a weird way. He didn't want money, just to jump out with a parachute and live rough until he died. Very strange... Anyway I'll add some details to make this clear. Tigerman2005 (talk) 05:48, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

Article cleanup

First my apologies to the original writer if I've trodden on toes - not my intention - it was just easier to rewrite parts rather than try to add details and join it all up. I've tried to answer some of the questions asked in the clarification notes. There is nothing in The Oz article about who gave Watts the gun (presumably Sandeman) or why they thought it was a good idea. I hope the article reads okay and explains the events a little more clearly. Cheers. Tigerman2005 (talk) 06:16, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

S.J. Perelman

FWIW: The American humorist S. J. Perelman was aboard this aircraft, and witnessed the incident. It is described in his biography, and his letters. 65.92.225.232 (talk) 12:07, 15 May 2017 (UTC)