NCJ Number
62229
Journal
American Journal of International Law Volume: 63 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1969) Pages: 695-710
Date Published
1969
Length
16 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON INCIDENCES OF AIRCRAFT HIJACKING FROM FEBRUARY 1968, TO SEPTEMBER 1969, THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE HIJACKING PROCESS, THE HIJACKERS, THE HAZARDS, AND VARIOUS CONTROL MEASURES AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
Abstract
FIGURES INDICATE AN ALARMING INCREASE IN SUCCESSFUL AND ATTEMPTED AIRCRAFT HIJACKINGS: IN 1968, 30 SUCCESSFUL HIJACKINGS OCCURRED, 17 OF U.S. - REGISTERED-AIRCRAFT; DURING THE FIRST 33 WEEKS OF 1969, 46 SUCCESSFUL HIJACKINGS OCCURRED, INCLUDING THOSE OF 27 U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT. MOST OF THESE HIJACKED FLIGHTS WERE DESTINED FOR CUBA AND ENGINEERED BY DISCONTENTED CUBAN NATIONALS, MILITARY DESERTERS, TERRORISTS WITH A POLITICAL CAUSE, OR MENTALLY DISTURBED PERSONS. TYPICALLY, THE WEAPONS USED CONSIST OF REVOLVERS OR PISTOLS, BUT KNIVES, DYNAMITE STICKS, NITROGLYCERINE, HAND GRENADES, AND MACHINE GUNS HAVE ALSO BEEN USED. THE DANGERS OF AIRCRAFT HIJACKING INVOLVE NAVIGATIONAL DIFFICULTIES, LACK OF EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT, FUEL SHORTAGES, AND VIOLENCE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. BASIC APPROACHES TO THE CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT HIJACKING ARE DETERRENCE OF POTENTIAL HIJACKERS AND PROSECUTION OF THOSE WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED OR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A HIJACKING. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) HAS DEVELOPED ELECTRONIC DEVICES USED IN THE SEARCH OF PASSENGERS AND THEIR BAGGAGE AND HAS AUTHORIZED THE TRAINING OF A SPECIAL CORPS OF FLIGHT INSPECTORS IN THE USE OF FIREARMS AND JUDO. NUMEROUS PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE JOINED IN EFFORTS TO CONTROL HIJACKING, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERAL OF AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATIONS, THE AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TRAVEL AGENTS, AND THE NATIONAL MARITIME UNION. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT PUBLICITY OF HIJACKINGS BE DISCOURAGED, HEAVY PENALTIES INSTITUTED, EXTRADITION TREATIES ENFORCED, AND PROSECUTION MECHANISMS IMPROVED. RECENT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS, SUCH AS THE TOKYO CONVENTION OF 1969, POINT OUT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES' RECOGNITION OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE. FOOTNOTES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)