A lot of hijacking of airlines going on this day in 1981. Three Venezuelan planes alone were hijacked and had all landed in Havana. And if that weren't enough, a Libyan Airliner was hijacked and had landed in Tehran.
In other news, OPEC Ministers were meeting in Abu Dhabi on this day to discuss oil prices in the face of decreased demand. Saudi Arabia's Sheik Yamadi said he had a present for the U.S. but wouldn't let anyone know what it was until the appropriate time.
Sec. of State Alexander Haig landed in Brussels for a NATO meeting. A mine explosion in Tennessee took the lives of 13 miners. On Capitol Hill a vote would be underway later in the day to determine a change in the rules regarding the Alaska Pipeline. And the economy was still in recession, noting there was a $100 billion deficit to deal with.
All on this day via CBS Radio Hourly News for 3,4 and 5:00 am (PST), December 9, 1981.