Hague Hijacking Convention

Quick Facts: Who was Hague Hijacking Convention?

Subject:

Hague Hijacking Convention

Known for:

Multilateral treaty prohibiting and setting standards for punishing aircraft hijacking.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Hague Hijacking Convention (formally the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft) is a multilateral treaty by which states agree to prohibit and punish aircraft hijacking. The convention does not apply to customs, law enforcement or military aircraft, thus it applies exclusively to civilian aircraft. The convention only addresses situations in which an aircraft takes off or lands in a place different from its country of registration.

Career & Major Achievements

The convention sets out the principle of aut dedere aut judicare—that a party to the treaty must prosecute an aircraft hijacker if no other state requests his or her extradition for prosecution of the same crime. The convention was adopted by the International Conference on Air Law at The Hague on 16 December 1970. It came into force on 14 October 1971 after it had been ratified by 10 states.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As of 2025, the convention has 187 state parties. The convention has 187 state parties, which includes 185 UN members plus the Cook Islands and Niue.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1970: 1970 Milestone — The convention was adopted by the International Conference on Air Law at The Hague on 16 December 1970.
2. 1971: 1971 Milestone — It came into force on 14 October 1971 after it had been ratified by 10 states.
3. 2025: 2025 Milestone — As of 2025, the convention has 187 state parties.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Hague Hijacking Convention

True or False: “True or False: The Hague Hijacking Convention applies to all types of aircraft, including military and law enforcement planes.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): False. The convention explicitly states that it does not apply to customs, law enforcement, or military aircraft; its jurisdiction is limited exclusively to civilian aircraft.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. H. M. Jones — Historical peer (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering British historian of classical antiquity, specializing in the later Roman Empire.
• Abraham Maslow — Historical peer (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Abd El-Razzak El-Sanhuri — Historical peer (Died in 1971) (1971): Pioneering Egyptian jurist, celebrated for authoring the revised Civil Code of 1948.
• Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi — Historical peer (Born in 1971) (1971): Iraqi militant leader and founder of the Islamic State (IS)
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Alfred Brendel — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hague Hijacking Convention