Every time I travel by plane, I pass through security, something I have always accepted as necessary for passenger safety. News coverage over the years has reinforced why these procedures continue to evolve, yet I had never given much thought to their origins. The documentary American Skyjacker offers valuable insight into how and why today’s security measures, including the TSA, came to be.
Martin McNally’s hijacking of Flight 119 out of St. Louis was one of approximately 130 hijackings of an airplane in the United States between 1967 and 1972. At the age of 28, he boarded Flight 119, intending to extort a ransom and vanish. His plan, however, did not unfold as expected.
Directors Eli Kooris and Joshua Shaffer were inspired by Danny Wicentowski’s Riverfront Times article, ‘The Final Flight of Martin McNally’. Through a well-crafted blend of interviews, archival news clips, and reenactments, the film traces the early days of commercial air travel, explores McNally’s motivations, and follows his life in prison and beyond. McNally himself serves as the principal interviewee, and these same interviews are used in a podcast miniseries covering this turbulent era in aviation history.
The combination of historical footage and thoughtfully produced reenactments creates a vivid sense of time and place. At moments, it feels as though the viewer has stepped directly into 1972, down to a particular fashion choice that becomes unexpectedly relevant to the story.
American Skyjacker succeeds not only because of its compelling subject matter but also because of its careful structure and engaging presentation. It is a rare film that informs as effectively as it entertains. If you are looking for an intriguing escape this holiday season, visit the film’s website for rental and purchase options and give it a watch.
Director: Eli Kooris, Joshua Shaffer
Cast: Martin McNally, Logan Spahitz, Angela Barber
Selig Rating: 4 stars
Runtime: 1h 38m
Genre(s): Documentary
Trailer: American Skyjacker trailer
Movie Site: American Skyjacker website – with link to buy/rent
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.