Leila Khaled

Leila Khaled is a Palestinian political activist and former militant, best known as the first woman to hijack an airplane. Born in Haifa in 1944, she has been a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) since the late 1960s. Khaled's actions in 1969 and 1970 made her a global symbol of Palestinian resistance and a deeply polarizing figure.

Today, Khaled remains active in political advocacy, speaking at international forums and giving interviews. Her iconic 1969 photograph holding an AK-47 still circulates widely, and she is revered by supporters as a freedom fighter while critics condemn her methods. Her life and legacy continue to be examined in books, documentaries, and academic studies. [edit]

Leila Khaled was born into a middle-class Palestinian family in Haifa. When she was four, the 1948 Arab-Israeli War forced her family to flee as refugees during the Nakba. They settled in Lebanon, where Khaled grew up in refugee camps before moving to Tyre. The experience of displacement at such a young age left a lasting mark on her worldview.

Khaled excelled in school and went on to study English at the American University of Beirut. From 1963 to 1969, she worked as an English teacher in government schools in Kuwait. It was during this time that she became politically active, joining the Arab Nationalist Movement, which later evolved into the PFLP. Her political awakening was shaped by the ongoing Palestinian displacement and the revolutionary ideas spreading through the Arab world in the 1960s. [edit]

Khaled's life changed on August 29, 1969, when she and a fellow PFLP member hijacked TWA Flight 840 from Rome to Tel Aviv, diverting it to Damascus. The passengers were released, and the plane was destroyed. This made her the first woman in history to hijack an airplane. A photograph of her smiling while holding an AK-47, taken around this time, turned her into an international icon.

In September 1970, she took part in the Dawson's Field hijackings, a coordinated operation involving four planes. Her attempt to hijack El Al Flight 219 failed when Israeli security guards overpowered her. The plane landed in London, where she was arrested and imprisoned. She was released on October 1, 1970, in a prisoner exchange for hostages taken during the hijackings.

After her release, Khaled moved away from operational roles but remained a senior figure in the PFLP, serving on its Political Bureau. She has continued to advocate for Palestinian rights, speaking at international events and giving interviews. In 2005, the documentary Leila Khaled, Hijacker by Lina Makboul told her story. As of 2026, she remains a vocal presence, with recent interviews and public appearances. [edit]

Khaled's public image is fiercely polarizing. To supporters, she is a symbol of resistance and liberation; to critics, she is a terrorist who endorsed violence. Her 1969 photograph holding an AK-47 cemented her status as a revolutionary icon, often compared to Che Guevara. Media portrayals range from admiring in Palestinian contexts to condemnatory in Israeli and Western sources. She has become a symbolic figure in Palestinian nationalist and leftist movements, with her image appearing on posters, murals, and merchandise. There is no traditional fandom, but she is a potent cultural touchstone in political art and literature. [edit]

Leila Khaled does not possess a traditional celebrity fandom with official names, organized chart campaigns, or fan-funded projects. Her supporters are generally identified as members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine or activists within the broader Palestinian liberation movement rather than a distinct group of fans. There are no records of fan rituals, inside jokes, or specific interactions typical of celebrity fandoms. Instead, she is revered by some as a freedom fighter and condemned by others as a terrorist, existing as a polarizing symbol of resistance rather than an entertainer. Her legacy is defined by verified historical events involving aviation hijackings that serve as the central mythology surrounding her figure. She remains a global icon whose image appears on posters and in books, yet institutions like Zoom have denied services for panels featuring her due to the nature of her advocacy. While some propose renaming streets after her, others continue to scrutinize her support for violent tactics decades later. Despite the controversy, her status as a legend endures through geopolitical impact rather than artistic performance. According to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, Leila Khaled is currently ranked as the 18th most famous person from Lebanon, holding steady from the previous cycle.[edit]

Leila Khaled underwent cosmetic surgery after her first hijacking to avoid recognition during later operations. She was the first woman to hijack a plane, a fact often noted in biographies. Before her militant career, she taught English in Kuwait for six years. Her iconic AK-47 photo from 1969 is one of the most reproduced images of Palestinian resistance. She has been compared to Che Guevara as a revolutionary symbol. A 2026 novel, Leila & Khaled by Nyla Matuk, was inspired by her life. The legend of her 1969 hijacking of a TWA flight from Frankfurt to London cemented her status as the 'poster girl of Palestinian militancy.' This coordinated attack alongside another hijacker on a Swissair flight catapulted her to international fame. In 1970, she attempted to hijack a Pan Am flight from Amsterdam to New York, an event thwarted at the airport in London. Recent reports from 2026 highlight ongoing debates regarding her legacy, including a proposal in Johannesburg to rename an iconic street after her.[edit]

Khaled married Fayez Rashid, a fellow Palestinian activist. Details about their marriage and family life are scarce, as she has kept her personal life private. She has not publicly shared information about children. Her family's experience during the Nakba, fleeing Haifa in 1948, deeply influenced her activism. She has spoken about the importance of her family's displacement in shaping her political views. [edit]

Khaled's husband is Fayez Rashid, also a Palestinian activist. Filmmaker Lina Makboul directed the documentary about her. Journalist Jason Burke examined her era in his book The Revolutionaries. She was associated with PFLP leaders George Habash and Wadie Haddad. [edit]

Khaled's personal life has remained largely private. Her only publicly known relationship is her marriage to Fayez Rashid, a fellow activist. The details of their marriage, including when they married and whether they had children, are not widely documented. As of 2026, she is reported to be married to Rashid, though some sources suggest she may be widowed. No other romantic relationships have been reported. [edit]

As of 2026, Leila Khaled's net worth is estimated at $1 Million per iFANN's editorial analysis. Unlike many public figures, she has not accumulated wealth through commercial ventures. Her income has come from her work as a teacher and political organizer. She has lived modestly, dedicating her life to activism. Her financial status reflects her lifelong commitment to the Palestinian cause rather than personal gain.[edit]