Xiamen Airlines Flight 8301, a Boeing 737-200, was hijacked on October 2, 1990, while flying from Xiamen to Guangzhou. The hijacker, a 19-year-old armed with a knife, took control of the aircraft, demanding to be flown to Taiwan. The crew attempted to comply with his demands, which ultimately led to a dangerous situation. After diverting to Guangzhou, the aircraft landed but collided with two other airliners on the tarmac. This catastrophic collision occurred due to a failure in the coordination among the control tower and the arriving aircraft, leading to a tragic outcome. Among the casualties were passengers and crew on Flight 8301, with a total of 132 fatalities recorded from the incident.

The event stirred significant public and governmental scrutiny regarding aviation security in China. It catalyzed changes in airport security protocols, leading to the implementation of stricter measures both at domestic levels and within the international aviation community. The direct intervention of security forces during hijacking incidents was also reevaluated in light of this event, as the complexities of passenger safety came to the forefront.

Overall, the death toll and the chaos resulting from the event raised awareness not only within China but internationally about the potential threats posed by hijackers, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety protocols and passenger screening systems in the aviation industry.