It's hard to believe, but there was once a time when airport security didn't exist! People could board a plane carrying anything they wanted.

I created this infographic to visually explore and chart the history of airplane skyjackings around the globe, highlighting the era's peak from 1969-1972. I was inspired by Brendan I. Koerner's enthralling book The Skies Belong To Us, one of the few deep dives into this unique era of history when airport security was viewed as an industry killer. At the bottom of the mobile-ready graphic, I researched the timeline for the instigation of airport security.