The person at the center of this case
Gas station owner (victim of 1962 robbery-murder); Delta Airlines passengers and crew (hijacking victims)
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large in Portugal
63 years waiting · since 1962
GEORGE EDWARD WRIGHT
Justice for Gas station owner (victim of 1962 robbery-murder); Delta Airlines passengers and crew (hijacking victims) — the trail went cold in 1962, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1How did Wright evade capture for over 40 years between his 1970 prison escape and 2011 arrest in Portugal?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What happened to the ransom money from the 1972 Delta Airlines hijacking, and how was it distributed among the hijackers?
📍
location
Lead #3Why was Wright released from Portuguese custody in October 2011, and what legal protections allow him to remain in Portugal?
On November 23, 1962, George Edward Wright and an accomplice robbed and murdered a gas station owner in Wall, New Jersey. Wright was convicted and sentenced to 15-30 years in prison, but escaped on August 22, 1970, from New Jersey State Prison. In 1972, he hijacked a Delta Airlines flight from Detroit to Miami, using the alias 'Reverend Larry Burgess' and a gun concealed in a Bible, ultimately escaping to Algeria with other hijackers and ransom money. Though arrested in Portugal in 2011, Wright was released and remains the only hijacker still at large, believed to be living in Portugal.
Case
#683
FBI; New Jersey State Police; Federal Bureau of Investigation
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👤
person
Lead #4Are the other hijackers from the 1972 Delta flight still alive, and have any been located since the incident?
💡
clue
Lead #5What connections or aliases has Wright used since 1970, and are there documented sightings or communications from his time as a fugitive?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Unlawful Flight to Avoid Confinement - Escape (Murder); Air Piracy (Seizing by Force an Aircraft in Air Commerce); Aiding and Abetting Caution: George Edward Wright is wanted for his involvement in a series of crimes dating back to 1962. On November 23, 1962, Wright and an accomplice, who was arrested, shot and killed the owner of a gas station in Wall, New Jersey, during the commission of a robbery at the business.
On December 13, 1962, Wright was indicted for the murder. He entered a plea of "no defense", and was sentenced to prison for a period of 15 to 30 years.
Then, on August 22, 1970, Wright escaped from the New Jersey State Prison in Leesburg, New Jersey. The State of New Jersey issued an arrest warrant for Wright after he was charged with escape and, on August 26, 1970, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Wright in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, Trenton, New Jersey, after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid confinement.
On July 31, 1972, Wright, and others who were arrested, hijacked a Delta Airlines jet en route from Detroit, Michigan, to Miami, Florida. The hijackers used handguns and made threats against the passengers on the plane.
At the time, Wright used the name Reverend Larry Burgess, wore the clothing of a cleric, and carried a Bible. He used a gun concealed in the Bible to confront the aircraft's pilot and crew.
After a ransom was delivered to the hijackers, the passengers were released in Miami. The hijackers and the plane's crew then flew to Boston, Massachusetts, refueled, picked up an international navigator, and flew to Algiers.
The plane and ransom were then returned to the United States Government, while the hijackers remained free. On September 26, 2011, after more than 40 years as a fugitive, Wright was arrested in Portugal.
He was released from custody in October of 2011, and remains in Portugal, where he continues to live. Wright is the sole hijacker to remain at large.
Remarks: Wright is known to be living in Portugal.
Timeline of Events
👤
1962-11-23
Gas Station Robbery and Murder
Wright and accomplice shot and killed gas station owner during robbery in Wall, New Jersey
🕵️
1962-12-13
Murder Indictment
Wright indicted for murder; pleaded no defense and sentenced to 15-30 years
👤
1970-08-22
Prison Escape
Wright escaped from New Jersey State Prison in Leesburg
🕵️
1970-08-26
Federal Warrant Issued
Federal arrest warrant issued for unlawful flight to avoid confinement
📋
1972-07-31
Delta Airlines Hijacking
Wright, using alias Reverend Larry Burgess, hijacked Delta flight from Detroit to Miami with gun concealed in Bible; escaped to Algiers with ransom
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 23, 1962
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:November 23, 1962
Last Updated:April 29, 2026