Following a history of hijacking of civil aircraft, the paper examines the following multilateral conventions, resolutions, and declarations: the Tokyo Convention of 1963, United Nations resolutions, the Hague Convention of 1970, the Montreal Convention of 1971, the 1971 European Convention on the Supression of Terrorism, and the 1978 Bonn Declaration. A review of U.S. legislation addresses the Antihijacking Act of 1974, the Aircraft Sabotage Act of 1984, the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985, and the Air Traveler Protection Act of 1985. An analysis of recent hijackings emphasizes that increased airport security prior to boarding appears to be the most effective means of preventing politically motivated hijacking. Other measures discussed include establishing an international criminal court, limiting the sanctuary afforded aircraft hijackers, and international sharing of intelligence. 170 footnotes.