ABSTRACT
As has been discussed elsewhere, one of the most disturbing aspects in the history of modern aviation has been an increase in the incidence of unlawful attacks directed against aircraft; such acts may take the form of seizure, hijacking or merely acts directed against passengers and crew. The last four decades have witnessed an attempt by the international community to secure agreement on the suppression of such acts. The vehicle of the multilateral law making convention has been employed to extend the bases of jurisdiction, to ensure that certain acts are considered criminal offences by all state parties; further, the general scheme of the conventions has been to provide for the principle of prosecute or extradite. To this end, the Tokyo Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft (1963) is concerned with jurisdiction over acts committed on board an aircraft which threaten safety.38
