Before the term hijacking existed, criminals in the sky were called air pirates.
In short: In July 1948, the world witnessed its first attempt to seize a commercial passenger plane mid-flight. Because the act was so unprecedented, the modern vocabulary for such crimes did not yet exist, leading observers to borrow a term from maritime history.
The July 1948 incident marked a turning point in aviation security, occurring when commercial passenger flight was still a relatively new phenomenon. At the time, the concept of a mid-air seizure was so foreign that the word hijacking had not yet entered the common lexicon.
Instead, those who attempted to take control of these aircraft were labeled air pirates. This event serves as a reminder of how quickly technology and criminal behavior can outpace our language and safety protocols.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Air Pirates!
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-air-pirates.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Crime · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
