A Surge in Bomb Threats – Sky Bulletin
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According to Zicree’s book, it was during the movie’s debut that the first bomb threat was reported. (It’s astonishing how swiftly those emulating the terrorist acts depicted in media took to action!) Subsequently, a string of airlines including TWA, Eastern, American, Pan Am, and Northwest, were besieged with bomb threats, tallying up to eight within a six-day span.
Overwhelmed by the situation, Serling expressed deep regret, lamenting to the press, “I wish to Christ I had written a stagecoach drama starring John Wayne instead. I wish I’d never been born.” His initial reaction was one of profound distress, although one can only hope he came to recognize the enduring appreciation and love audiences have for his pioneering contributions to entertainment, without which the landscape would be markedly different.
Tragically, this trend of bomb threats persisted. Nearly half a decade after its initial broadcast, in the summer of 1971, the Federal Aviation Administration made an appeal to approximately 500 television stations nationwide, urging them to cease airing the movie. The FAA’s request emphasized a point of great concern: the potential for the movie to trigger emotionally unstable individuals to recreate its narrative. The authority on aviation safety noted that refraining from re-running the film would be a “highest possible contribution to the safety of more than 160 million passengers.” Although lacking the authority to regulate television broadcasts, the FAA’s message was clear, and out of the 500 stations contacted, 20 reported that they would comply and not continue to air the film. The influence of the FAA appeared to dominate in the end, as reports suggested that the film’s distributor had intentions of withdrawing “The Doomsday Flight” from the packages sold to TV stations.
Presently, the film is accessible on YouTube.
(Additionally, to correct a sentiment expressed previously regarding the copycat plane terrorists: It is clear that one does not, under any circumstance, need to “gotta hand it to them.”)
FAQ Section
- What film led to the surge in bomb threats?
- How did the airlines respond to the threats?
- What did the Federal Aviation Administration do?
- Did the television stations agree to the FAA’s request?
‘The Doomsday Flight’, written by Rod Serling, was associated with the escalation of bomb threats after its premiere.
Airlines such as TWA, Eastern, American, Pan Am, and Northwest received numerous threats, amounting to eight within merely a week.
The FAA requested that Television stations stop airing ‘The Doomsday Flight’ due to concerns that it could provoke unstable individuals to imitate the film’s plot.
Of the 500 stations contacted, 20 agreed to stop airing the movie; however, there were indications that the distributor might pull the film from the market.
Conclusion
In an example of life imitating art, ‘The Doomsday Flight’, authored by the legendary Rod Serling, inadvertently influenced a real-world sequence of bomb threats across various airline companies in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Despite Rod Serling’s clear intentions to create captivating drama, the consequences extended beyond the screen, compelling the FAA to intervene. This chain of events underscores the powerful impact media can have on individuals and society at large. Even decades later, as the film is available online, the legacy of ‘The Doomsday Flight’ underscores the gravity of content depicted in media and its potential to influence real-world actions.
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