NCJ Number
62233
Journal
Editorial Research Reports Volume: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1973) Pages: 67-84
Date Published
1973
Length
18 pages
Annotation
ISSUES AND STEPS TAKEN TO COUNTER SKYJACKING IN THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS AS OF JANUARY 1973, ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
MAJOR ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED ARE (1) WHETHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AIRPORTS, OR AIRLINES SHOULD ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY AND COST OF SECURITY MEASURES; (2) WHETHER NEW SECURITY MEASURES (METAL DETECTORS, BAGGAGE CHECKS) CONSTITUTE UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES BARRED UNDER THE FOURTH AMENDMENT; (3) WHETHER MORE SEVERE PENALTIES FOR SKYJACKING WILL BE A DETERRENT; (4) WHETHER FORCE SHOULD BE USED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO FOIL A SKYJACKER EVEN IF THE LIVES OF PASSENGERS AND CREW ARE ENDANGERED; AND (5) HOW TO RESOLVE THE NEED TO EXTRADITE OR PROSECUTE SKYJACKERS ACROSS NATIONAL BOUNDARIES WHILE PRESERVING THE RIGHT OF EACH NATION TO GRANT ASYLUM TO POLITICAL REFUGEES. EACH OF THESE ISSUES IS IN SOME STAGE OF DEBATE OR PARTIAL RESOLUTION. METAL-DETECTION AND BAGGAGE CHECK PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, APPARENTLY WITHOUT EXCESSIVE PASSENGER RESISTANCE, AND ARRESTS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE DETERRED MANY PLANNED SKYJACKINGS, ALTHOUGH THE COURTS HAVE YET TO RESOLVE THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES INVOLVED. THE DIVERSION OF PLANES TO NATIONS WHICH GRANT ASYLUM TO PARTICULAR TERRORIST GROUPS REMAIN A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS RELUCTANT TO IMPOSE ANY SANCTIONS ON THE HARBORING NATIONS. A FAVORABLE NOTE IS THE WILLINGNESS OF CUBA TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE UNITED STATES IN ARRIVING AT AN AGREEMENT DESIGNED TO COUNTER SKYJACKING JOURNEYS TO AND FROM THE TWO COUNTRIES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)