I. INTRODUCTION
Annex 14 to The Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) Volume I- Aerodrome Design and Operation under Definitions, refers to an airport as an aerodrome and describes it as "A defined area on land or water (including any buildings, installations, and equipment) intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure, and surface movement of aircraft.“ An airport is a subset of an aerodrome with facilities for flights to take off and land. Airports often have facilities to store and maintain aircraft, and a control tower.
The Federal Aviation Administartion (FAA) defines an airport as “ any area of land or water used or intended for landing or takeoff of aircraft including appurtenant area
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In the Fort Worth Star-Telegram daily newspaper (morning edition) 19 September 1970, J. Howard "Doc" DeCelles states that he was actually the victim of the first skyjacking in December 1929. He was flying a postal route for the Mexican company Transportes Aeras Transcontinentales, ferrying mail from San Luis Potosí to Toreon and then on to Guadalajara. He was approached by Gen. Saturnino Cedillo, governor of the state of San Luis Potosí and one of the last remaining lieutenants of Pancho Villa. Cedillo was accompanied by several other men. He was told through an interpreter that he had no choice in the matter; he had to fly the group to their chosen destination. He stalled long enough to convey the information to his boss, who told him to cooperate. He had no maps, but was guided by the men as he flew above Mexican mountains. He landed on a road as directed, and was held captive for several hours under armed guard. He eventually was released with a "Buenos" from Cedillo and his staff. DeCelles kept his flight log, according to the article, but he did not file a report with authorities. It wasn’t until the late 1950’s that airport security screening too off, despite warnings by professinals, and by the late 1960’s hijackings were on the rise culminating in an all-time record of 86 hijackings in 1969