The hijacking of Southern Airways Flight 49 started on November 10, 1972, in Birmingham, Alabama, stretching over 30 hours, three countries, and 4,000 miles (6,400 km), not ending until the next evening in Havana, Cuba.

[2] The hijackers' threat to crash the aircraft into a nuclear reactor led directly to the requirement that U.S. airline passengers be physically screened, beginning January 5, 1973.

[2][3] The hijacking finally came to an end when the plane landed once again in Havana on Saturday, November 11, after traveling for some 30 hours and 4,000 miles (6,400 km).

Multiple sources alleged the runway was covered in foam at the time of the landing, a claim the plane's co-pilot has denied.

[12][13][14] The hijacking was the subject of the National Geographic documentary series I Am Rebel premiere episode "Jacked" by Lana Wilson, which aired June 5, 2016.