Skyjacking

Skyjacking, also known as air piracy or hijacking, is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft during flight or on the ground, usually by individuals or groups seeking to compel actions from authorities, secure asylum, or achieve political aims. It is criminal under international law and most national jurisdictions, and modern aviation security aims to deter and respond to such acts.

Historically, skyjacking gained prominence in the 1960s through the 1980s, when a series of high-profile incidents occurred around the world. The best-known early case is the 1971 hijacking of Northwest Orient Flight 305 by D. B. Cooper, who extorted a ransom, then parachuted from the aircraft and vanished. Other notable events include the 1976 Entebbe hijacking of Air France Flight 139 and the 1985 hijacking of TWA Flight 847, both driven by political or extremist motives. The September 11, 2001 attacks, carried out by hijackers who commandeered commercial airliners to attack targets in the United States, marked a turning point in aviation security and public perception of the threat.

International and domestic laws treat skyjacking as a grave crime. Early instruments include the Tokyo Convention (1963) addressing crimes on board aircraft and the Hague Convention (1970) and the Montreal Convention (1971) dealing with unlawful seizures and violence against civil aviation. These frameworks enable cross-border cooperation and penalties for perpetrators.

Impact and security measures: In response to past hijackings, aviation security has evolved to include reinforced cockpit doors, air marshal programs, advanced passenger screening, surveillance, and improved communication between airlines, airports, and law enforcement. Since the early 2000s, such measures have contributed to a significant decline in successful skyjackings, though the threat remains a focus of security planning.