This early made-for-TV movie only received one NBC network airing as opposed to the usual two. The network shied away as it was thought that it was too detailed and could serve as a textbook for airplane terrorism.
In Australia in the 70s two gentleman pulled the same stunt with a Qantas flight from Sydney to Hong Kong. They got away with $500,000 but were caught later after buying too many cars, a butchers shop and a penthouse.
Upon release in the UK this was commonly shown as the supporting film to Carry On Doctor (1967).
Final film of Bernadette Hale.
The script contains a few elements of Rod Serling's script for the twilight zone episode "The Odyssey of flight 33".