The Time Air Force One Took Evasive Maneuvers To Defend Itself Against Syrian MiGs

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During the Nixon Administration, back in 1974, it was decided that the President
would attempt to open up better relations with Syria. In true Nixon fashion, he
took to the skies aboard Air Force One¡ªBoeing VC-137Cs at the time¡ªto travel
to Syria to meet with President Hafez Al Assad face-to-face as part of a
multi-leg trip through the Middle East.

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On June 15, 1974, with the stage set for a historic detente, Air Force One
approached Syrian borders on its way to Damascus for the highly anticipated
visit. As the VC-137 passed into Syrian airspace, four camouflaged MiGs appeared
seemingly out of nowhere and began forming-up off Air Force One's wing. Air
Force One's captain immediately acted to defend the iconic aircraft and its
high-profile passengers.

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Air And Space Magazine describes the strange encounter as such:

Air Force One pilot Colonel Ralph D. Albertazzie, who, fearing attack, banked
violently right. For the next seven minutes, Albertazzie flew a series of
evasive maneuvers, including a steep dive.

Remembering the incident years later to reporter Kenneth Walsh, author of Air
Force One: A History of the Presidents and Their Planes, CNN political analyst
David Gergen, at the time a Nixon aide who was on Air Force One, said he
wondered if the passengers would survive. He and others had been thrown to the
floor.

The whole incident was a big and dangerous misunderstanding. White House
officials already in Damascus had been told that the Syrian Air Force had
planned to give Air Force One and honorary escort as it crossed into its
territory, but nobody had informed Air Force One's crew about the high-flying
welcome wagon of sorts. After attempting to evade being shot down by the MiGs
for seven long minutes¡ªpushing the Boeing 707 derivative to the edge of its
envelope and probably beyond¡ªair traffic controllers informed Air Force One
that the MiGs were not hostile and were there just as a formality as described
to the White House advance party.


The flight continued on to land safely in Damascus where Nixon was treated to a
full state welcome on the tarmac. A New York Times article published the
following day describes the reception:

When Mr. Nixon's plane landed here in the late afternoon, he was given a 21©\gun
salute. The road leading into Damascus was lined with soldiers in camouflaged
combat uniforms and with fixed bayonets. The Golan Heights could be seen in the
golden haze to the right as the limousine drove out of the airport.



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