Response Management to Unlawful Interference: Hijacking and Commander Powers

010-12-05Pablo Asensio Martínez2026-03-271 min

Response to Unlawful Seizure (Hijacking)

When an aircraft subjected to an act of unlawful seizure lands in a Contracting State:

  • Detention: The State shall detain the aircraft on the ground unless its departure is necessitated by the overriding duty to protect human life.
  • Assistance: The State shall provide:
    • Air navigation aids.
    • Air traffic services (ATC).
    • Permission to land.

Tokyo Convention (Powers of the Aircraft Commander)

  • The aircraft commander may disembark any person who he believes has committed or is about to commit an act of unlawful interference.
  • May deliver to the competent authorities any person who has committed a serious act.
Written and reviewed by

Pablo Asensio · 2026-03-27

Aeronautical engineer. Passed the thirteen EASA ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge exams studying from these very notes. Writes and reviews each topic against the Part-FCL Learning Objectives.

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