Top Tips For Surviving A Skyjacking
by: RussellEaton |
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Hijackings of aircraft are usually followed a pattern of negotiations between the hijackers and the authorities, followed by some form of settlement (not always the meeting of the hijackers' original demands) or the storming of the aircraft to rescue the hostages.
It is roughly estimated that since the nineteen eighties, there have been about 25 skyjackings a year. (compiled from Criminal Acts Against Civil Aviation 1988 and 1989, and other sources).
Before 9/11, most airlines had a policy requiring the pilot to comply with hijackers' demands in the hope of a peaceful resolution. Since then, policies have changed in favor of arming and strengthening the cockpit.
Options for preventing skyjacking include screening to keep weapons off the airplane, putting air marshalls on the flight, and fortifying the cockpit to keep hijackers out.
Most skyjackers are, in fact, not political terrorists in the conventional sense. Skyjackings are mostly caused by people with mental instability and a strong sense of grievance. Some skyjackings arise from air rage incidents that get out of control.
The aircraft and passengers are of course put at serious risk whatever the reason and motivation of the skyjackers. This is so even if the cockpit is not overtaken during flight. While the hijackers are in control, the safety of passengers and crew is at risk whether or not the aircraft is in flight.
Fortunately, there are some simple things that you can do should you are ever get caught up in a skyjacking. Here are the best ten tips to help you survive a skyjacking:
1. Always be aware of your surroundings. Whenever you are in an airport or on an aircraft, take notice of your surroundings. Pay particular attention to activities or situations that do not appear to be normal.
2. Report unusual activity to the authorities. Should you see anything in the airport or on an aircraft that looks out of place or otherwise inappropriate such as unusual behavior or potential security violations, inform someone in authority.
3. Make no assumptions about who could pose a threat. If someone is determined to carry out a violent skyjacking, realize that such a person or persons can be of any gender, age, or nationality. Therefore, do not assume that any particular type of person is likely to do harm simply because of outward appearances.
4. Be as invisible as possible. Once it is clear that a skyjacking or a violent act is in progress, do nothing to draw attention to yourself. Stay quiet and be low profile. However, remain observant in case there is an opportunity for escape, and work as a team if the need arises.
5. Keep your seat belt fastened at all times while seated. This provides extra protection in case the plane hits unexpected turbulence of if the aircraft is forced through unusual maneuvers. Seat belt warnings may not be operating.
6. Pay attention to the flight attendants. The main reason flight attendants are on an aircraft is for safety. So if there is any kind of emergency situation, look to the flight attendants for guidance.
7. Become familiar with your aircraft. When you are first seated, review the written safety instructions and count the number of rows to the nearest exits (toward the front or the back of the plane). Also study the seatback telephone service if such telephones are available.
8. Use a telephone if it is safe to do so. In an emergency, such as a skyjacking, make use of your mobile or the seatback telephone to alert the emergency services on the ground. But only do this if you can make the call without being noticed by the skyjackers. Note that in all the countries of the European Union the emeregency telephone number is 112. In the USA it is 911.
9. Make use of a camouflage passport. If your nationality is 'western', if your religion, culture or country (or even the sound of your name) could be associated with some kind of war or conflict, then you need to consider having a camouflage passport. You would only use the camouflage passport in the event of a skyjacking, and of course you would destroy or hide your real passport. You also need to remember to get rid of other items that may reveal your real identity.
Skyjackers are likely to collect all passports. Possession of a camouflage passport is perfectly legal since it is not a false passport and has not been used to commit any crime. To get a camouflage passport do a search on internet.
10. Work as a team. If the situation on the airline has the potential for danger, it may be better to share information with crew members and the other passengers and cooperate together. Individual action in an emergency or during a skyjacking is usually much less effective than a coordinated group action.
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