BEFORE 1969, MOST HIJACKINGS WERE CARRIED OUT BY FUGITIVES, MILITARY DESERTERS, THE MENTALLY ILL, OR PERSONS SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM. SINCE THAT TIME, MOST HIJACKINGS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT BY SPOKESPERSONS FOR POLITICAL CAUSES. THE HIJACKER MAY BE SEEKING FUNDS FOR THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTED, ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN RELEASE OF COMRADES FROM PRISON, OR TRYING TO CAPTURE MEDIA ATTENTION. HIJACKING IS VIEWED AS A FORM OF INTERNATIONAL BLACKMAIL. INTERNATIONAL TREATIES RELEVANT TO HIJACKING SINCE 1954 ARE DISCUSSED. IT HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE STABLE AND EMERGING POWERS TO AGREE ON THE ACCORDS NECESSARY TO MAKE SUCH TREATIES DECLARATIONS OF UNIVERSAL LAW. THE PRIMARY DIFFICULTY IS THAT WHAT ONE COUNTRY CONSIDERS A POLITICAL ACT, ANOTHER COUNTRY MAY NOT. THREE GENERAL TESTS FOR DETERMINING A POLITICAL ACT, THE SWISS, FRENCH, AND ANGLO-AMERICAN APPROACHES, ARE DESCRIBED. THE ISSUE OF EXTRADITION IS ALSO DEALT WITH IN DETAIL; AGREEMENT ON WHAT IS AN EXTRADITABLE OFFENSE BETWEEN STATES IS AGAIN LACKING. THE ROLES OF THE UNITED STATES, THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION, AND THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATIONS ARE COVERED. PROPOSALS FOR A SOLUTION TO HIJACKING INCLUDE THE EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF UNILATERAL AND COLLECTIVE SANCTIONS. WORKING FOR A SOLUTION THROUGH EXTRADITABLE MEASURES IS NOT RECOMMENDED. PREVENTIVE SECURITY MEASURES ARE FAVORED OVER LEGAL REMEDIES BECAUSE TREATIES ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE AND BECAUSE THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT TO JUDGE HIJACKERS SEEMS REMOTE. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (JSP)