Jurisdictional Challenges in Aircraft Security: Legal Gaps and Emerging threats in International Aviation

Determining jurisdiction in the context of aircraft insecurity remains a persistent legal challenge, despite international efforts through conventions and national laws. This paper critically evaluates the efficacy of existing jurisdictional frameworks, highlighting the limitations of conventions such as Tokyo (1963), Hague (1970), and Beijing (2010), particularly in dealing with contemporary threats like cyber-attacks and drone warfare. It is evident that overlapping claims and the absence of a clear rule of priority among states continue to obstruct legal clarity and enforcement. In my view, a unified legal instrument with an established hierarchy of jurisdiction is urgently needed to address these issues effectively.