Diverting aircrafts by hijackers and passenger deaths

3^rd International Conference on Forensic Research and Technology

October 06-08, 2014 Hilton San Antonio Airport, USA

Stephen J Morewitz

Accepted Abstracts: J Forensic Res

Abstract :

Forensic sociologists and policy specialists have been analyzing social patterns of aircraft hijackings and how law enforcement professionals can effectively respond to these crimes. The social control process may affect the ways in which law enforcement and security forces respond to hijackers during aircraft hijackings. Various factors, such as whether the aircraft is diverted by the hijackers may influence passenger survival and other outcomes. The present investigation is a part of the Aircraft Hijackings Project, which is based on a sample of 202 known aircraft hijackings that occurred worldwide between 1956 and 2009 and that are listed in Wikipedia. This investigation tests the null hypothesis that the diverting of an aircraft by hijackers is not associated with the killing of hijackers. Aircraft hijackings between 1956 and 2009 were coded using a protocol that contains 173 variables for each hijacking. The coded data were entered into a data file, and Chi-Square, correlational, and regression analyses were performed using Systat 9 for Windows program (1999). The null hypothesis was rejected. Diverting aircraft by hijackers was related to the killing of the hijackers. When planes were diverted by hijackers, passengers were less likely to die (r=-0.213, N=202). These results remained statistically significant after controlling for possible intervening factors. This study assesses the implications of these findings for social control theory and reducing passenger deaths and injuries during aircraft hijackings.

Biography :

Stephen J Morewitz is an Associate Professor with experience of over 18 years in assessing disability/stress, rehabilitation, sexual harassment profiles, sexual harassment impact, and sexual harassment policies/procedures. He is an author of the book, Sexual Harassment & Social Change (1996) and other publications in the areas of psychosocial disability, stress, and assessment. He is a consultant to organizations in sexual harassment prevention and program development. -I Who's Who in Medicine & Healthcare, 1999-2000, Who's Who in America, 1999-2000, and other honors, Certified behavioral scientist.