Il a été obligé de détourner un avion

Summary

The story follows Raphael, a young man who hijacks a plane to return to Italy and see his dying father. His desperate act leads to a media frenzy, but his journey is not as it seems. Despite being a fugitive, Raphael becomes a sympathetic figure, with many Italians supporting him due to his troubled background. After serving a reduced prison sentence, he attempts a new life through modeling, acting, and opening a pizzeria, but faces failure. Ultimately, Raphael seeks redemption by helping earthquake victims in his hometown and later apologizing to the plane crew, marking his ongoing quest for peace and forgiveness.

Takeaways

• 😀 Raphaël hijacked a plane in 1969, initially trying to return home to visit his sick father.
• 😀 The hijacking became the longest and most spectacular one ever seen at the time, drawing global media attention.
• 😀 Despite being pursued by the police, Raphaël managed to escape, eventually losing both the police and himself in rural Italy.
• 😀 Raphaël found temporary refuge in a monastery, where he was later recognized and arrested during a Sunday Mass.
• 😀 The Italian public sympathized with Raphaël, seeing him as a victim of the Vietnam War and a reflection of the disillusionment of young Italians in the U.S.
• 😀 The Italian courts dropped most charges against him, convicting him only for the illegal possession of a weapon, reducing his sentence significantly.
• 😀 Raphaël’s prison time was brief, serving only a year and a half due to good behavior.
• 😀 After his release, Raphaël attempted various careers, including modeling and acting, but faced major failures.
• 😀 Raphaël eventually opened a pizza restaurant called 'The High Jacking', referencing his hijacking incident.
• 😀 In 1980, following a devastating earthquake in his hometown, Raphaël returned to help the victims, reflecting his desire to make up for past mistakes.
• 😀 Later in life, Raphaël sought to make amends by reaching out to the flight crew he affected, apologizing for his actions and revealing his weapon was not real, hoping to finally find peace.

Q & A

What was the main reason Raphaël hijacked the plane?

Raphaël hijacked the plane to escape the pressures of his life and to return to his sick father, as he was deeply troubled by his situation and wanted to see his father before it was too late.

Why did the Italian public sympathize with Raphaël after his arrest?

The Italian public sympathized with Raphaël because of his tragic backstory, including his traumatic experience in the Vietnam War. His hijacking seemed like an act of desperation, and people understood his motives as a young man seeking to return home to a dying father.

How did Raphaël manage to evade the police during his escape?

Raphaël successfully evaded the police by using a series of clever tactics, including driving on nearly impassable roads in the Italian countryside. He eventually lost the police and ended up in a dead-end, which led to him fleeing on foot.

What event helped Raphaël stay hidden for a time after the hijacking?

Raphaël found refuge in a monastery in the Italian countryside, where he was hidden from the authorities and allowed to lay low, which enabled him to escape police detection for a while.

How did Raphaël's capture come about?

Raphaël's capture occurred when he attended a Sunday mass in the monastery, and the local priest recognized him from media coverage. The priest informed the authorities, and Raphaël was arrested as the police surrounded the church.

What did Raphaël say when he was confronted by the authorities after his hijacking?

When confronted, Raphaël seemed bewildered, stating that he didn't understand why he was handcuffed or why he was being questioned about an airplane. This further illustrated his confusion and apparent innocence in his own mind.

How did Raphaël's family react to his actions?

Raphaël's father, when interviewed by the press, attributed his son's actions to the trauma of the Vietnam War but acknowledged that his son had gone too far. He also jokingly mentioned that he would 'pull his ears' when they next met.

What was the outcome of Raphaël's trial?

Raphaël was initially charged with hijacking, hostage-taking, and weapons offenses. However, the charges related to the hijacking were dropped by the Italian courts, and he was only convicted for importing a weapon, resulting in a prison sentence of seven years, which was reduced on appeal.

How did Raphaël attempt to rehabilitate his public image after prison?

After his release, Raphaël attempted various careers, including modeling and acting in western films, though these endeavors failed. He eventually opened a pizzeria named 'The High Jacking,' referencing his hijacking story.

How did Raphaël contribute after the 1980 earthquake in his hometown?

After the 1980 earthquake, Raphaël returned to his hometown to assist the victims. He helped locate survivors, gathered donations, and even delivered toys for children, showing a deep sense of responsibility and empathy toward those affected by the disaster.

What was the ultimate resolution of Raphaël's story?

Raphaël spent the rest of his life seeking redemption. Years later, he was pardoned by the United States and allowed to return to the country. He took the opportunity to meet with members of the flight crew he had hijacked, apologizing sincerely for his actions and attempting to make amends.

What does Raphaël's final apology to the flight crew reveal about his character?

Raphaël's final apology reveals a man who deeply regretted his actions and was seeking peace with his past. He explained that the gun he used was not loaded and expressed sincere remorse by quoting a passage from the Bible about forgiveness, highlighting his desire for redemption.