3Hijacking

(1) Whoever unlawfully and intentionally seizes or exercises control of an aircraft in service by force or threat thereof, or by coercion, or by any other form of intimidation, or by any technological means, commits the offence of hijacking.

(2) A person shall also be deemed to have committed the offence of hijacking specified in sub-section (1), if, such person--

(a) makes a threat to commit such offence or unlawfully and intentionally causes any person to receive such threat under circumstances which indicate that the threat is credible; or

(b) attempts to commit or abets the commission of such offence; or

(c) organises or directs others to commit such offence or the offence specified in clause (a) or clause (b) above;

(d) participates as an accomplice in such offence or the offence specified in clause (a) or clause (b) above;

(e) unlawfully and intentionally assists another person to evade investigation, prosecution or punishment, knowing that such person has committed any such offence or the offence specified in clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) or clause (d) above, or that such person is wanted for criminal prosecution by law enforcement authorities for such an offence or has been sentenced for such an offence.

(3) A person also commits the offence of hijacking, when committed intentionally, whether or not any of the offences specified in sub-section (1) or in clause (a) of sub-section (2) is actually committed or attempted, either or both of the following:--

(a) agreeing with one or more other persons to commit an offence specified in sub-section (1) or in clause (a) of sub-section (2), involving an act undertaken by one of the participants in furtherance of the agreement; or

(b) contributing in any manner to the commission of an offence specified in sub-section (1) or in clause (a) of sub-section (2) by a group of persons acting with a common purpose and such contribution shall either--

(i) be made with the aim of furthering the general criminal activity or purpose of the group, where such activity or purpose involves the commission of such an offence; or

(ii) be made in the knowledge of the intention of the group to commit such offence.

(4) For the purposes of this Act, an aircraft shall be considered to be 'in service" from the beginning of the pre-flight preparation of the aircraft by ground personnel or by the crew for a specific flight until twenty-four hours after any landing and in the case of a forced landing, the flight shall be deemed to continue until the competent authorities take over the responsibility for the aircraft and for persons and property on board.