Criminal Law of Air Transport

The Tokyo Convention of 1963, the Hague Convention of 1970, and the Montreal Convention of 1971 collectively form the cornerstone of international air law in addressing offenses committed on board aircraft. This book provides an incisive analysis of these seminal treaties, as well as of other key legal instruments that followed, exploring their jurisdictional foundations, enforcement mechanisms, and the principles of legal certainty that underpin their operation.

This work elucidates the necessity of preordained legal consequences to combat unruly conduct, hijacking, and acts that endanger civil aviation. The discussion extends to the 2014 Protocol to the Tokyo Convention, highlighting its pivotal role in expanding jurisdictional reach and formalizing the presence of Inflight Security Officers.

Key topics addressed in this book include, but are not limited to: the jurisdictional complexities of crimes committed on board aircraft; the legal empowerment of aircraft commanders in maintaining order; the obligation of States to prosecute or extradite offenders; the harmonization of national legal frameworks to ensure uniform enforcement; the evolving role of aviation security measures in safeguarding flights; and, how States should legislate against crimes on board aircraft and the conduct of unruly passengers.

With meticulous legal reasoning and a forward-looking approach, this book serves as an essential reference for aviation professionals, policymakers, and scholars of international law. It affirms that the rule of law, when firmly anchored in codified instruments, remains the most effective safeguard against arbitrariness and impunity in aviation governance.

This is the fifth book in the Ethics Press collection on Aviation Law by this author.