It often happens in the history of law, that a certain event gives the impulse to a new direction of legal thinking. Though the technical developments of our age continually confront us with new problems, which demand special provisions also in the legal field, the urgency of such provisions is often felt only after some dramatic accident, which arouses public alarm in wide circles.

Seldom has the international community shown such a rapid and prompt reaction to an international wrongful act as in the case of hijacking of aircraft. States, international organizations—governmental or non-governmental—came together to advise and take strict and immediate measures to cope with this situation. The modern phenomenon of hijacking of aircraft, like abductions of statesmen, diplomats and other civil servants, and attacks on diplomatic and consular missions, which are intended to draw attention to a certain political cause, are only some of the forms of violence which international society witnesses today. Of all these instances of sheer violence, the abduction of aircraft and persons on board has made the greatest impact. At the same time it has brought about an immediate and strong reaction of world opinion against these unprecedented acts.