skyjacking
Seizing an aircraft
Skyjacking is the hijacking of an aircraft, a blend of sky and hijacking.
The term emerged in the 1960s and 70s when airline hijackings became common, often for political motives or ransom: The skyjacking ended when the plane landed in Cuba.
The word sounds somewhat dated now, with hijacking serving for most contexts.
Pilot's control compartment
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- airlinerLarge commercial passenger plane
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- jetlinerLarge commercial passenger aircraft
cabin · flight · altitude · airspace · transponder · flight path · passengers · stewardess
Transported travelers
- crewWorking team aboard
- captivesPeople held by force
- demandsForceful requests or requirements
- negotiatorOne who bargains professionally
ransom · release · threats · ultimatum · coercion · intimidation · barricade · standoff
Seaborne theft or bootlegging
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- extortionObtaining through threats
- felonySerious criminal offense
- conspiracyClandestine coordinated scheming
unlawful seizure · prosecution · penalties · indictment · federal crime · fugitive · arrest · conviction
cockpit
Pilot's control compartment
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- airlinerLarge commercial passenger plane
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
jetliner · cabin · flight · altitude · airspace · transponder · flight path · passengers · stewardess · air traffic control
passengers
Transported travelers
negotiator · ransom · release · threats · ultimatum · coercion · intimidation · barricade · standoff · surrender
piracy
Seaborne theft or bootlegging
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- extortionObtaining through threats
- felonySerious criminal offense
conspiracy · unlawful seizure · prosecution · penalties · indictment · federal crime · fugitive · arrest · conviction · criminal charges
ransom
Payment for captive's release
- extortionObtaining through threats
- political asylumGovernment-granted refugee protection
- defectionAbandoning one's loyalty
blackmail · demands · payoff · escape · publicity · manifesto · ideology · desperation
terror
Extreme, overwhelming fear
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
dread · helplessness · survival · shock · ordeal · nightmare · distress · passengers · crisis · alarm
- aviation disastersplane crash, air crash, midair collision, crash landing, crash site
- hijackingcommandeering, air piracy, armed takeover
- aviation crimesair piracy, air rage, unruly passenger, bomb threat, bomb threats
- aviation threatsbomb threat, terrorism, explosive, box cutter, weapon
- flight eventstakeoff, landing, liftoff, flight, launch
- Kidnappingkidnapping, hostage, captive, ransom note, kidnapper
skyjackingcarjacking
Violent vehicle theft
train robbery · bus hijacking · maritime piracy · ship hijacking · kidnapping
skyjackingpiloting
Controlling a vehicle's course
commercial aviation · captaining · flying · air travel · safe passage