Hijacking Act

Any person on board an aircraft in flight who unlawfully seizes or exercises control of the aircraft through the use of force or threats of any kind, regardless of that person's nationality, the country or territory in which the aircraft is registered, or whether the aircraft is in Antigua and Barbuda or elsewhere, commits the crime of hijacking.

A person who commits the crime of hijacking or in Antigua and Barbuda encourages or aids in the conduct of an act that would constitute the crime of hijacking is subject to a ten-year jail sentence upon conviction on an indictment.

The time that an aircraft is in flight is defined as the time that all of its external doors are closed after embarkation until the time that any of those doors is opened for disembarkation, and in the event of a forced landing, the time that passes before the competent authorities assume control of the aircraft as well as the people and property inside.

When a person of any nationality commits an act on board any aircraft, regardless of where it is registered, while the aircraft is outside of Antigua and Barbuda, and the act would be considered a crime under Antigua and Barbuda's laws for murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, culpable homicide, assault, or one of the certain crimes listed in the Offenses Against the Person Act, if the act is committed or attempted by such person on board that aircraft.

It is prohibited to bring legal action for a violation of this Act without the Director of Public Prosecutions' written authorization.