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Posted in Maine January 28, 2018 by Michelle

This Is The Single Craziest Thing You Never Knew Happened In Maine

Maine is known for a lot of things including lobster, blueberries, a very special Zumba teacher and an “Ebola nurse.” But, did you know that Vacationland played a role in the longest hijacking ever recorded in the US? This story involves alcohol, an Italian heartthrob and a tiny Maine airport that didn’t know what it was in for! Here is, what just might be, the strangest thing to ever happen in Maine!

Our story involves an Italian man living in the US who served as a Marine in Vietnam, a hijacked plane and...the Bangor Airport.

Raffaele Minichiello, immigrated to the US as a teenager and served 13 months with the Marines in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart.

Stationed at Camp Pendleton upon his return, he accused his unit's paymaster of withholding $200 from his paycheck.

Believing himself to be the victim of a horrendous affront, he stole $200 worth of items from the camp's store - mainly radios and watches - in retaliation.

On the day he was to be tried, he fled to LA and bought himself a one way ticket on TWA Flight 85 to San Francisco.

While on board, he took shots of Canadian Club, loaded a gun in the bathroom and officially hijacked the plane to go back to Italy where he felt his countrymen would understand his victimhood and take his side.

The plane stopped to refuel in Denver and again in New York, where the FBI tried to stop him.

But! This is where Maine enters the story! He fled the FBI at JFK Airport and went straight to Bangor Maine!

The little airport was his last refueling stop in the US before another in Ireland just before arriving in Italy.

He landed in Roame, then hid in a small town in Italy before being captured, though the country didn't extradite him back to the US. Instead they tried him on small charges and he spent just 18 months in prison.

Raffaele Minichiello ultimately became a local Italian heartthrob!

The hijacking has gone down in history as the longest in history. And, to think, our own Bangor played a role!

Raffaele Minichiello still lives in Italy today. And, our hijacking heatthrob runs a little YouTube channel that you can see by clicking here.

Love these wacky stories of strange Maine? Then you might love 10 of the weirdest and strangest things to ever happen here!

Michelle

Michelle has lived in many places, but counts Maine as one of the best. In addition to the smell of ocean water in the air on rainy days in Portland, she loves puppies, photography, funny people, the Maine Red Claws, traveling, fresh tomatoes, Cambodia and filling out forms. For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.