Yuji Nishizawa

Yuji Nishizawa (西沢裕司; Nishizawa Yūji, b. September 8, 1970, Tokyo) was convicted of the hijacking of All Nippon Airways Flight 61, en route from Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) to New Chitose Airport (Sapporo) in Japan, on July 23, 1999. After he graduated from Hitotsubashi University, he joined the Japan Freight Railway Company. After leaving JR Freight, he hijacked the ANA flight using a knife, forced the cocaptain out of the cockpit, and stabbed the captain, who later died of the wounds. Nishizawa took control of the aircraft, and attempted to fly to Yokota Air Base. The cocaptain reentered the cockpit and regained control of the aircraft, landing it at Haneda. Tokyo District Court demanded life imprisonment for him on April 7, 2005.

Nishizawa explained his reasons for the highjacking, saying that he wanted to do a Dutch roll and to fly under the Rainbow Bridge.