hijacking

Hijacking refers to the unlawful seizure or control of a vehicle or asset, typically by force, threat of force, or coercion. It is usually undertaken to compel a target—such as a transportation operator, government, or private individuals—to meet demands. While the term most often describes attacks on aircraft, hijacking can involve land vehicles, vessels, and, in digital contexts, the takeover of online sessions or assets.

Types of hijacking include aircraft hijacking (often called skyjacking), which involves seizing control of an airplane; vehicle hijacking, such as carjacking or bus hijacking; and vessel hijacking, including acts of piracy on seas or rivers. In cyberspace, hijacking covers session hijacking (taking over an active online connection), domain hijacking (seizing control of a domain or its DNS), and other forms of credential or control takeover that disrupt legitimate use.

Motivations vary and can be criminal or political. Common aims include ransom, political concession, or coercion. Methods range from threats of violence or the use of weapons to deception, coercion, or manipulation of security systems. In cyber hijacking, attackers may exploit stolen credentials, phishing, malware, or software vulnerabilities to gain control over a target.

Legal frameworks and responses address hijacking as a serious offense under national laws and international arrangements. Aviation-specific treaties and domestic statutes govern offenses aboard aircraft and related actions, with responses emphasizing negotiation, crisis management, and, as a last resort, the use of force to protect lives. Prevention concentrates on security screening, reinforced access controls, crew and staff training, surveillance, and rapid incident response to minimize risk and casualties.

See also: aviation security, cybercrime, domain security.