United States v. Yunis (1988)

Fawaz Yunis (defendant), a foreign national, participated in a two-day hijacking of a Jordanian commercial airliner in June 1985, holding passengers hostage, forcing a failed landing attempt in Tunisia, returning to Lebanon to release hostages, then blowing up the empty aircraft; the only U.S. connection was the chance presence of three American citizens among the hostages. Charged in federal court under the Hostage Taking Act and Destruction of Aircraft Act, Yunis moved to dismiss, arguing the United States lacked jurisdiction to prosecute a foreign national for conduct occurring entirely on foreign soil.