Terrorism : why does aircraft hijacking occur?

Abstract

Aircraft hijackings placed “terrorism on the world stage in the late 1960s, long before the advent of the suicide bomber or the car bomb” (Clarke and Newman, 2006: 42). Aircraft hijacking occurs when an airplane is seized by a person or a group of persons who are usually equipped with weapons. Most of the hijacks use passengers as hostages in order to release comrades held in prison, for ulterior political motives or to acquire transport to a particular destination (Dugdale-Pointon, 2005). This research study explores the reasons why aircraft hijacking takes place and discovers measures to reduce aircraft hijackings. This qualitative research study was accomplished through semi-structured face-to-face interviews with a number of elite respondents both from Malta and abroad in order to gather in-depth data on terrorism and aircraft hijackings. The data collected elucidates that skyjackings occur because hijackers seek media attention, the security systems are vulnerable and also due to ransom. It is also deduced from the data garnered that the measures that minimize aircraft hijackings are intelligence, security systems at the airport and security checks. Furthermore, this thesis analyses the relationship between aircraft hijackings and the media, why aircraft hijackings cannot be eradicated completely, how passengers should act during a hijack, it also discovers the message that hijackers attempt to convey and how the security forces could be strengthened further. The research study concludes by providing suggestions so as to improve airport security practices and decrease the number of aircraft hijackings taking place. In addition, a list of recommendations is given for future in-depth research.