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Uli Derickson (Ulrike Patzelt) was born on 8 August, 1944 in Ústí nad Labem, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic), is a German American flight attendant. Discover Uli Derickson's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is she in this year and how she spends money? Also learn how she earned most of networth at the age of 60 years old?

Popular As Ulrike Patzelt
Occupation N/A
Age 60 years old
Zodiac Sign Leo
Born 8 August, 1944
Birthday 8 August
Birthplace Ústí nad Labem, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)
Date of death 18 February, 2005
Died Place Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Nationality Slovakia

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 August. She is a member of famous with the age 60 years old group.

Uli Derickson Height, Weight & Measurements

At 60 years old, Uli Derickson height not available right now. We will update Uli Derickson's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
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Who Is Uli Derickson's Husband?

Her husband is Russell Derickson

Family
Parents Not Available
Husband Russell Derickson
Sibling Not Available
Children 1

Uli Derickson Net Worth

Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Uli Derickson worth at the age of 60 years old? Uli Derickson’s income source is mostly from being a successful . She is from Slovakia. We have estimated Uli Derickson's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income

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Timeline

1944

Uli Derickson (née Patzelt, August 8, 1944 – February 18, 2005) was a German American flight attendant best known for her role in helping protect 152 passengers and crew members during the June 14, 1985, hijacking of TWA Flight 847 by militants with alleged links to Hezbollah.

Uli Derickson was born as Ulrike Patzelt on August 8, 1944, in Ústí nad Labem, Czechoslovakia.

Her family was expelled from Czechoslovakia while she was a child, and moved to East Germany.

They later fled to West Germany.

1967

She worked jobs as a clerk for a bank and car dealership and also held a part-time job as an au pair in the UK and Switzerland before emigrating to the United States in 1967.

Derickson also worked as an au pair in Connecticut before joining Trans World Airlines (TWA) where she met her husband, pilot Russell Derickson.

1970

They were married in the 1970s and had a son, Matthew.

1980

After the TWA 847 incident, Derickson continued her job as a flight attendant for TWA until her resignation in the late 1980s.

1985

In 1985, Russell Derickson retired from his job as TWA pilot.

Derickson was serving as the purser on Flight 847 between Athens and Rome when the flight was hijacked.

Derickson took a kick to the chest from one of the hijackers as he forced her to go with him into the cockpit.

The other hijacker—who was holding a grenade with the pin removed—started kicking open the door.

Once inside, they pistol-whipped the pilot and flight engineer.

The two hijackers spoke poor English, but one of them spoke fluent German.

Derickson was the only crew member able to speak German, which left her responsible for translating the hijackers' demands to the pilot.

At one point, one of the two hijackers asked her to marry him, something she later described as the most terrifying moment of the ordeal.

The plane was diverted first to Beirut, where Derickson first pleaded with the hijackers to release the women on board the plane.

After the hijackers refused, she successfully pleaded for the release of 17 elderly women and two children.

The hijackers then directed the plane to Algiers wherein the ground crew in Algiers refused to refuel the plane without payment, leading the hijackers to threaten violence.

It occurred to Derickson to offer her Shell Oil credit card.

The ground crew charged about $5,500 for 22,700 L (6,000 gal) of fuel.

The hijackers then ordered the plane flown back to Beirut.

On the way the first real violence started.

The hijackers had earlier identified some American military personnel on the flight.

They singled out U.S. Navy diver Robert D. Stethem.

After beating him severely with an armrest, they shot Stethem and dumped his body on the ramp after landing.

Additional henchmen boarded the plane to assist the hijackers.

The plane then headed back toward Algiers, where Derickson and the rest of the women on board were released.

The plane, now with only 39 American men on board as hostages, flew back to Beirut where they were held for 17 days.

The ordeal ended on June 30 after Israel released 31 Lebanese prisoners, a fraction of the 766 the hijackers had demanded.

During the hijacking Derickson was asked to sort through passenger passports to single out people with Jewish-sounding names.

Initial reports suggested that she had followed the orders.

It was later revealed she had actually hidden the passports.

Because some reports had said that she had given the hijackers names of Jewish passengers on the flight, Derickson later received threats from extremist groups.

When the truth about her efforts to protect Jewish passengers by hiding their passports was verified, she received threats from other extremists.

Derickson's family relocated to Arizona from New Jersey as a result of these threats.

1987

The action film The Delta Force (1987), inspired by the TWA Flight 847 hijacking, features a German air hostess (played by Hanna Schygulla) modelled after Derickson.

1988

A 1988 TV movie based on her experience, The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story, featuring Lindsay Wagner as Derickson, received five Emmy nominations.

1990

She worked at an Arizona real-estate firm before joining Delta Air Lines in the 1990s, where she continued her work there as a flight attendant.

For her heroism, Derickson, a resident of Fredon Township, New Jersey, was awarded the Silver Cross for Valor by the Legion of Valor, a veterans' organization; she was the first woman to be so honored.