• Login
    View Item 
    •   OpenDocs Home
    • Institute of Development Studies Research Repository
    • K4D
    • K4D
    • View Item
    •   OpenDocs Home
    • Institute of Development Studies Research Repository
    • K4D
    • K4D
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Threats to Civilian Aviation Since 1975

    Thumbnail
    Download
    963_Threats_to_civilian_aviation_since_1975.pdf (723.2Kb)
    Date
    2021-02-05
    Author
    Kelly, Luke
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Impact
    Abstract
    This literature review finds that the main malicious threats to civilian aviation since 1975 are attacks by terrorist groups, deliberate or accidental damage arising from conflicts, and incidents caused by people who work for airlines or airports. While the sector has responded to hijackings and bombings with increasing security since the 1970s, actors seeking to attack aircraft have modified their tactics, and new threats such as liquid explosives and cyber attacks have emerged. Civilian aviation has seen relatively fewer accidents and deaths over the years, but threats remain. The review focuses on malicious threats to civilian aviation. It, therefore, excludes weather events or accidents. The first section lists major malicious threats to civilian aviation since 1975. It includes both actual and planned events (e.g. hijackings that were prevented) that are recorded in open-source documents. Each threat is listed alongside information on its cause (e.g. terrorism, state actions, crime), the context in which it occurred (broader factors shaping the risk including geography, regime type, technology), and its impact (on passengers, policy, security, economic). The second section discusses some of the trends in threats to aviation. Motives for malicious threats include terrorism, crime, asylum-seeking, and insider attacks by aggrieved or mentally ill airline staff. Hijacking has been the most common form of threat, although bombing or suicide attacks have killed more people. Threats may also take the form of accidental attacks on civilian planes misidentified as threats in conflict zones. Experts suggest that growing threats are cyberattacks and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, although neither has yet caused a major incident.
    URI
    https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/15952
    Citation
    Kelly, L. (2021). Threats to civilian aviation since 1975. K4D Helpdesk Report. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies. DOI: 10.19088/K4D.2021.019
    DOI
    10.19088/K4D.2021.019
    Is part of series
    K4D Helpdesk Report;963
    Rights holder
    © Crown copyright 2021
    Rights details
    https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
    Sponsor
    FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
    Collections
    • K4D [935]

    About OpenDocs | OpenDocs Policy | Help | Contact Us | Send Feedback | Disclaimer and Cookies
     

     

    Browse

    All of OpenDocsCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

    About OpenDocs | OpenDocs Policy | Help | Contact Us | Send Feedback | Disclaimer and Cookies