Aircraft Hijacking
In short
An unlawful seizure of an aircraft in operation by an individual or a group. This often involves forcing the pilot to fly to a specific location or follow certain demands.
In plain words
Someone takes control of a plane by force or threats. They might hold passengers hostage or try to crash the aircraft. It is a serious crime against aviation safety.
A simple example
A person enters a plane and threatens the crew with a weapon to force the pilot to change course to a different country.
Why it matters
It poses a massive threat to the lives of passengers, crew, and people on the ground. These events force global changes in airport security and cockpit safety.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse hijacking with a technical malfunction or an emergency landing caused by mechanical failure.