Ali Atwa is believed to be a member of the terrorist organization Lebanese Hizballah. On 14 June 1985, terrorists hijacked TWA Flight 847 en route from Athens to Rome. After flying to multiple sites, the plane landed in Beirut, where the hijackers shot and killed US Navy diver Robert Stethem and dumped his body on the airport tarmac.

Ali Atwa was indicted for his role in planning and participating in that attack. He has been indicted on the following charges: Conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy, to commit hostage taking, to commit air piracy resulting in murder, to interfere with a flight crew, to place a destructive device aboard an aircraft, to have explosive devices about the person on an aircraft, and to assault passengers and crew; air piracy resulting in murder; air piracy; hostage taking; interference with flight crew; placing explosives aboard aircraft; placing destructive device aboard aircraft; assault aboard aircraft with intent to hijack with a dangerous weapon and resulting in serious bodily injury; and aiding and abetting.