On June 14, 1985, the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front while traveling in the Mediterranean Sea. The hijackers demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and held passengers hostage. During the standoff, one American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer, was killed and thrown overboard, sparking international outrage. The hijacking ended when the ship was diverted to Egypt, and the perpetrators were later arrested. The incident highlighted the issue of terrorism and the vulnerability of civilian ships.