This article reports on the psychological reactions of subjects who survived the hijacking of a Kuwait Airways jet in April 1988. Subjects were sent questionnaires within two weeks of their release, and 13 of the 22 survivors replied. 8 of these subjects were showing probable psychological distress and in 3 of them this was in the severe category. The most common complaints were of anxiety and intrusive memories, and to a lesser extent an inability to function properly at home and at work. 9 survivors replied to a follow-up six months later; 4 of them were above the cutoff point for psychological distress. The key features of the survivors' reactions are discussed.