1971 Qantas bomb hoax

1971 aviation incident in Australia October 2021 1971 Qantas bomb hoaxQantas Flight 755 QF 707-138B VH-EBU City of BH Sydney BB c1969a.jpg VH-EBU, the aircraft involved in the incident, seen in 1969 Incident y 1971 06 21 Bomb threat Sydney, Australia Boeing 707-338C City of Broken Hill Qantas VH-EBU Sydney Hong Kong 128 116 12 0 128 The 1971 Qantas bomb hoax was an extortion and robbery committed by Peter Macari and Raymond Poynting on 26 May 1971, where Macari, under the alias of "Mr. Brown", extorted $500,000 from Qantas by informing officials that he had hidden a bomb on board Qantas Flight 755 from Sydney to Hong Kong, and that the device would explode if the plane were to descend below 20,000 feet.22 February 2019 The true story of the 1971 Qantas bomb hoax – one of Australia's most audacious heists https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-23/qantas-bomb-hoax-1971-the-great-plane-robbery-australia/10807510 26 August 2021 www.abc.net.au en-AU In exchange for the safety of the 128 passengers and crew on board Flight 755, Macari demanded a ransom of $500,000. While authorities negotiated with Macari, Flight 755 was forced to circle Sydney; however after over six hours in the air and with fuel supplies dwindling, Qantas was forced to concede.Staff Writers 26 May 2021 From the Archives, 1971: Qantas pays $500,000 ransom in mid-air bomb hoax https://www.theage.com.au/national/from-the-archives-1971-qantas-pays-500-000-ransom-in-mid-air-bomb-hoax-20200522-p54vgz.html 26 August 2021 The Age en At around 5:45 p.m., in Chifley Square, just outside Qantas company headquarters, Captain R. J. Ritchie, a Qantas general manager, handed Macari the ransom money through the window of a Volkswagen Kombi.Teeseling Ingeborg van 21 May 2018 The bomb on the Qantas flight, and what happened next https://www.thebigsmoke.com.au/2018/05/21/the-bomb-qantas-flight-what-happened-next/ 27 August 2021 The Big Smoke en-US Sometime after 6:00 pm, Qantas received a final call from Macari stating that there was no bomb onboard Flight 755. The plane was able to land safely at Sydney Airport around 6:45 p.m.Guy Fiona 13 December 2017 'Call Me Mr. Brown' – The Story of the Qantas Bomb-Hoax, Australia's Greatest Heist https://www.crimetraveller.org/2017/12/qantas-bomb-hoax-australias-greatest-heist/ 26 August 2021 Crime Traveller en-GB An investigation was launched by police and Macari and his accomplice, Raymond Poynting, were arrested on 4 August 1971, after a service station attendant tipped off police about Poynting's new lavish lifestyle.Cullen Matthew 24 January 2016 Day Qantas was hoaxed out of $500k https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/australias-most-notorious-robberies-the-day-qantas-was-hoxed-out-of-500k/news-story/a24cedd101775118e64429ae039a2eab 29 August 2021 Daily Telegraph en Poynting was jailed for seven yearsSchulz Matthew Aitken Alysha 2 January 2014 The Qantas 'doomsday flight' https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/the-great-plane-robbery-of-1971/news-story/dcf347e76a448bfbafd1c3a1f36529df 26 August 2021 Herald Sun en and Macari for 15.28 January 1972 Australian Jailed in Airline Bomb Hoax en-US New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/28/archives/australian-jailed-in-airline-bomb-hoax.html 28 August 2021 0362-4331 However, Macari served only nine years before being paroled and deported to England in 1980.12 November 1980 Court Reports 10 Canberra Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126157997 26 August 2021 The 1986 Australian television film Call Me Mr Brown is based on the events of the 1971 Qantas bomb hoax.Call Me Mr Brown (1985) – The Screen Guide – Screen Australia https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/call-me-mr-brown-1985/1652/ 26 August 2021 www.screenaustralia.gov.au Background Peter Macari was born in Devon, England. In July 1969, he was arrested on charges of indecent assault28 January 1972 One last mystery: The missing $125,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22390992/the-age/ live 27 August 2021 The Age en https://web.archive.org/web/20210925135508/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22390992/the-age/ 25 September 2021 and was later released on bail. Macari then sold his elder brother Bernard a fish and chip shop he owned for roughly $6,500.October 2021 In August 1969, using a false passport, Macari skipped bail and sailed to Sydney, Australia, on the MS Achille Lauro with 22-year-old Ivan Jay. Macari used a variety of aliases while living in Sydney including "Peter King", "Peter Young", "Brian Adams", and "William Day"; however, most people knew him as "Peter King", including his accomplice, Raymond Poynting. It is unclear exactly how Macari and Poynting met, but according to police they became friends while Macari was running a fibreglass furniture and boatbuilding business in Brookvale. Planning Macari's plan to extort an aircraft was initially inspired by the 1966 television-thriller film The Doomsday Flight; the film depicted a bomb equipped with an altitude-sensitive switch being hidden inside an airliner.14 August 2021 Neville Goddard, Rod Serling and Lucille Ball: Is the Imagination of Popular Writers Creating Our Reality? https://coolwisdombooks.com/neville-goddard-rod-serling-and-lucille-ball-is-the-imagination-of-popular-writers-creating-our-reality/ 29 August 2021 Cool Wisdom Books en-US Macari viewed the film in Townsville in March 1971 while travelling inside what witnesses described as a "fitted-up van". According to witnesses, after watching the film Macari stated "That would be a good way to make money". With the plan beginning to form, Macari travelled to Mount Isa in April where he befriended a miner called Francis Sorohan, who stole gelignite and a dozen detonators for him. On 11 May, Macari bought an altimeter and offered Poynting $50,000 in exchange for his help with the extortion. Poynting agreed and typed out three threatening letters that detailed the instructions for the ransom and warned that the bomb would explode if the plane descended below 20,000 feet; the three letters were later discovered in a locker at Sydney Airport, along with an explosive device consisting of unprimed gelignite that could be detonated at a set height using the altimeter.How Qantas hoax bomber duped the airline and police https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-bomb-hoax-1971-how-bomber-duped-qantas-police-with-threat-to-blow-up-jet/8bdb71d8-4c7c-46c4-be16-4f15864c4ab1 27 August 2021 www.9news.com.au 25 May 2020 According to Poynting, Macari initially asked him for help on how to build the explosive device; however, Poynting stated that he did not know anything about electronics and that Macari apparently got the advice elsewhere. The night before the hoax on 25 May, Poynting drove Macari to the Hertz depot in Alexandria, where they stole car keys belonging to a Volkswagen Kombi, later used as the getaway vehicle during the extortion. Macari had initially planned to extort a Pan American jet, but he found that Flight 755 from Sydney to Hong Kong was the only flight that would stay long enough in the air to make the plan work.17 December 1971 Court Reports: Qantas chief 'had safety in mind' 8 Canberra Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110695184 30 August 2021 Extortion of Qantas Airways Around midday on 26 May 1971 Macari, under the alias of "Mr Brown", called the Australian Department of Civil Aviation where he told officials he had hidden a bomb on board a Boeing 707, on Qantas Flight 755; to prove he was not lying, Macari told authorities there was an identical bomb located in locker 84 at Kingsford Smith International Airport. Police located the locker and upon opening it, found three letters and an explosive device constructed out of unprimed gelignite and an altimeter. The first letter was addressed to Captain R. J. Ritchie, Qantas' General Manager (in this period the title of "General Manager" was assigned to the Chief Executive); the letter demanded a $500,000 ransom in exchange for instructions on how to dismantle the bomb on Flight 755. The second letter repeated that an identical explosive device was hidden inside Flight 755, and the third letter warned that the bomb would explode if the plane should descend below 20,000 feet. Police defused the replica bomb found in locker 84 and replaced the explosives with a light bulb. The bomb was then taken aboard a second Boeing 707 to test whether the device would explode during its descent. The plane climbed to roughly 8,500 ft m off before it began its descent; when the plane reached 5,000 ft m off the light bulb was activated, meaning that the bomb would have exploded if the explosives had not been replaced. This worried authorities and a radio link was soon established with the pilot of Flight 755.Australian Crimes - AustralianCrimes.com https://australiancrimes.com/crimes/doomsdayflightbombhoax.html 29 August 2021 australiancrimes.com Search of Flight 755 Qantas Flight 755 from Sydney to Hong Kong was a Boeing 707 and was carrying a total of 128 people; 116 passengers and 12 crew. Around 1:30 p.m., while flying over Dalby, Queensland, Captain William Selwyn, pilot of Flight 755, was informed of the situation and was told to maintain an altitude of 35,000 feet. Initial plans were made to divert the plane to Canberra as it was the highest location in the country where the plane could land. Instead, Flight 755 was diverted to Brisbane, the crew told passengers this was because of a technical fault.Obituary – William Selwyn – Obituaries Australia https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/selwyn-william-16909 29 August 2021 oa.anu.edu.au After reaching Brisbane air space at 2:22pm, the plane started to circle the city at an altitude of six miles (31680 ft, escorted by an RAAF Phantom fighter-bomber jet.Australia: The day Qantas was held to ransom The Bulletin 5 June 1971 0007-4039 John Ryan Comic Collection (Specific issues) 93 4758 Sydney, NSW http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1481191176 nla.obj-1481191176 23 February 2022 Trove Soon afterwards, Flight 755 was diverted back to Sydney, due to superior emergency services.Staff reporter 4 August 2020 From the Archives, 1971: Two arrested over Qantas jet plot https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/from-the-archives-1971-two-arrested-over-qantas-jet-plot-20190731-p52clp.html 26 August 2021 Sydney Morning Herald en While Selwyn made his way back to Sydney at minimum speed, the air and cabin crew searched the plane extensively for the bomb; according to statements taken from those on board, passengers' personal belongings were searched and they were told the crew was "looking for a small-object". Selwyn later recounted:We were searching all the time. We pulled off every conceivable panel and searched. The passengers remained calm and there was no panic at any time. This was the case even when the stewards and hostesses began ripping-up carpets and removing light-fittings.Selwyn arrived at Sydney and was forced to circle the plane for several hours at sea off Mascot while negotiations were held. He informed controllers of his dwindling fuel supply and told them he would need to land the plane at 7:00 p.m. at the latest. The pay-off While Flight 755 circled at sea, Macari, still posing as "Mr Brown", spoke with Qantas deputy general manager Phillip Howson, because Qantas general manager Captain Ritchie, to whom the letter in locker 84 was addressed, was not present at the time. Macari spoke with Howson at roughly 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm, each time providing more information and instructions regarding the ransom; at around 5:30 pm Macari spoke with Howson again, relaying his instructions for the delivery of the ransom money. Macari demanded $500,000 in used, unmarked $20 notes. With a little over an hour of fuel left on Flight 755, Qantas agreed to pay the ransom. Macari told authorities that a yellow van would park outside Qantas company headquarters in Chifley Square at 5:45 pm, and that the driver would identify himself by shaking his keys out of the window; he warned that the van must not be followed, and if there was any deviation from the agreement, he would activate the bomb on Flight 755. The money was delivered in two blue suitcases. At roughly 5:45 pm Macari arrived in a yellow Volkswagen Kombi which he had stolen the night before; he was reported to have worn a disguise consisting of a wig, a fake moustache, and glasses.24 August 2019 How terrifying Qantas bomb hoax uncovered grisly murder https://7news.com.au/original-fyi/crime-story-investigator/planes-bombs-and-murder-the-curious-case-of-the-peter-macari-qantas-hoax-c-365924 30 August 2021 Seven News en Captain Ritchie handed the suitcases to Macari through the window of the van. There were four police vehicles in the area, but they were apparently never informed the handover was taking place; it remains unclear exactly what happened. Soon after 6:00 pm, authorities received a final call from Macari stating that there was no bomb onboard Flight 755. The plane began its descent around 6:40 pm and was able to land safely at Sydney Airport. Investigation The next day, on 27 May, a reward of $50,000 for information leading to the capture of the hoaxer was offered to the public;8 July 1971 Commonwealth of Australia State of New South Wales Extortion—Bomb Hoax Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) Reward 4340 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article241061125 30 August 2021 police received over 14,500 calls regarding the reward. The police brought in phonetic experts who, after listening to recordings of Macari's voice, concluded that he was an Englishman, likely from the Midlands, and likely a recent English migrant; police tried to match the information gained in the phonetic analysis with those that had a criminal record in Britain and they worked closely with Scotland Yard, Interpol, and the FBI, who helped Australian police narrow down the list of suspects. Two weeks after the hoax, police discovered that the gelignite and detonators used in the making of the bomb found in locker 84 at Sydney Airport were also being used in the Mount Isa Mines, in Queensland. At the time this led them to believe that the hoaxer, "Mr. Brown", either worked or had worked in the mines.8 June 1971 Qantas hoax trail leads to Mount Isa 3 Canberra Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131810996 30 August 2021 Arrests A breakthrough came in August 1971 when police received a tip-off from a service station attendant about a young barman, Raymond Poynting; the attendant became suspicious of the man after he suddenly began making large and extravagant purchases, including buying himself an E-Type Jaguar and a Ford Falcon GT. Detectives placed Poynting and later Macari, a suspicious associate of the man, under surveillance. Police tailed a Chevrolet Camaro belonging to Macari before arresting him on Burton and Elizabeth Street, in Darlinghurst. A few hours later police arrested Poynting outside his apartment in Bondi Junction; shortly after he was detained, Poynting confessed to his part in the robbery. Search for the missing money Soon after the arrests, police became suspicious of an Annandale property which they believed to be owned by Macari. A bricklayer working on the property later contacted police, telling them that recent work had been done inside the house by somebody else. Police arrived at the property where they found $138,240 in $20 notes behind a bricked-up fireplace.9 August 1971 In Brief 3 Canberra Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110672824 30 August 2021 In 1972, Qantas held an auction where they sold the suitcases used in the ransom27 April 1972 Auction for Qantas 11 Canberra Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102212524 30 August 2021 as well as cars bought by Macari and Poynting. In July 1973, police found $137,000 of the ransom money in a home in Balmain after a new tenant contacted police, telling them that he was suspicious about the position of some of the floorboards. Police stated that Macari had hidden in the house for a few days after the extortion.5 July 1973 Qantas bomb-hoax cash found under floor 3 Canberra Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110736160 30 August 2021 After his arrest, Macari was asked by authorities where the remainder of the money was, he stated that there was another man involved in the extortion by the name of "Ken". According to Macari "Ken" was a part of a large gang and was the mastermind behind the hoax; "Ken" had seen The Doomsday Flight, and he had stayed in touch with Macari throughout the extortion. Macari stated that after he was handed the ransom money, he was given $125,000, while "Ken" took the rest. Police dismissed Macari's statement, as there was no evidence of another individual involved in the crime. 2021, only about $260,000 of the $500,000 ransom had been recovered. Some suspect that the missing money might be hidden underwater off Bondi Beach. Aftermath Legal proceedings Macari and Poynting both pleaded guilty to charges of demanding money with menaces and stealing a motor vehicle. Macari was also charged with carrying a grenade in Sydney Airport. Francis Sorohan, the man who stole the gelignite and detonators for Macari, was initially charged as a minor accomplice; however, the charges against him were later dismissed. Macari and Poynting were sentenced in January 1972 at Sydney Quarter Sessions. Macari was sentenced to fifteen years in prison, eligible for parole after serving nine; Poynting received seven years for his involvement.28 January 1972 Qantas Extortion 6 Canberra Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101754671 5 September 2021 In 1980, after serving nine years in prison, Macari was paroled and deported to England on a Qantas flight. Macari was later reported to be running a fish and chip shop in England bought by his brothers. In 2017, British police learned that Macari had died four years earlier, having allegedly committed suicide.McNab Duncan Planes, bombs and murder: The curious case of the Peter Macari Qantas hoax https://7news.com.au/original-fyi/crime-story-investigator/planes-bombs-and-murder-the-curious-case-of-the-peter-macari-qantas-hoax-c-365924 19 October 2021 Seven News Seven Network 23 August 2019 27 The Doomsday Flight Four days after the hoax, an interview was published with Rod Serling, screenwriter of the 1966 film The Doomsday Flight. By now The Doomsday Flight had inspired three extortion plots. Serling expressed regret over writing the film, stating that he "didn't realise there were that many kooks in the woodwork". Later, in August of the same year, a similar incident was carried out in Denver, Colorado, on a British Overseas Airways Corporation flight with 380 passengers on board. The United States government became involved and urged 500 television stations to ban the film.The Bryan Times – Google News Archive Search https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19710811&id=dJpPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WFIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=873,2464342 31 August 2021 news.google.com Copycat attempt At 1:44 pm on 4 July 1997, a man contacted Qantas under the pseudonym "Mr. Brown"; he stated that he had hidden a bomb on board a Boeing 747-400, on Qantas Flight 27 from Sydney to Hong Kong, and like Macari, he said the device would explode if the plane descended below 6,500 m ft. He demanded $505,000 and said that the bomb contained trip wires to prevent it being defused; he also said that he was able to remotely detonate it if Qantas did not meet his demands. Like Macari, the man also demanded the money in used banknotes and that they should be delivered inside a suitcase. New South Wales Police were notified and upon further review of technical information given by the man, they deemed the threat a hoax. Authorities reached this conclusion as not only was deactivating the bomb via remote control deemed impossible, but the hoaxer also relayed inconsistent instructions to Qantas and displayed technical ineptitude. It was highly unlikely the hoaxer would have been able to hide the device on the plane. After the threat was deemed a hoax, Qantas was able to trace the origin of the call and delivered two bags full of phone books to the hoaxer to give the impression that there was money inside. At 8:15 pm, Flight 27 landed safely in Hong Kong. The calls were being made from a motel, where the hoaxer stayed the night. The next day he arranged a taxi to deliver the bags to his residence, and police followed the taxi and arrested the hoaxer once he took possession of the bags.12 February 2014 Extortion Attempt: Qantas Airways http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/cab/muldoonjones.pdf live 31 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20140212104756/http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/conferences/cab/muldoonjones.pdf 12 February 2014 In popular culture In 1971, Australian singer Peter Hiscock released a single titled "A Certain Mr Brown", detailing the events of the hoax. The 1986 Australian television film Call Me Mr Brown, written and directed by South Australian director Scott Hicks, is based on the events of the bomb hoax.Papers of Scott Hicks : Summary record ["Info" tab] State Library of South Australia https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1726/page:5 6 May 2022 26 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220926104708/https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1726/page:5 dead0382956 Scott Hicks Qantas actively tried to stop the film being made1 November 1985 Qantas in protest about hijack film 11 Canberra Times http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127533979 31 August 2021 and despite failing to do so, Network 10, which had invested A$250,000 in the film, refrained from airing it. The film was eventually released on video in 1990. See also Bomb threat List of aircraft hijackings References Further reading Pepper Fiona Bluett Ros Inside the Qantas bomb hoax, based on a Hollywood film, that left passengers with lifelong trauma https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-07/the-qantas-bomb-hoax-that-left-passengers-with-lifelong-trauma/103963626 17 July 2024 ABC News 7 July 2024 en-AU Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1971 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in New South Wales Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 707 Category:1971 in New South Wales Category:May 1971 in Australia Category:1971 crimes in Australia Category:Qantas Category:1971 hoaxes