Zestrzelenie samolotu a zasada zwierzchnictwa powietrznego
Shooting Down Aircraft in the Light of Sovereignty of Aerospace

Summary/Abstract: Hereby article aims at juridical analysis of a phenomenon that has constituted a threat to civil aviation since years – shooting down aircraft. The phenomenon is connected with the principle of sovereignty in the airspace – fundamental one for global aviation. Breach of the rule by any state results in multiple consequence, among which unfortunately nowadays also aircraft shot-down occurs. The article features discussion on problem from the perspective of Chicago Convention being a “constitution” of international civil aviation and its practical study in a form of analysis of selected cases of shot-down from last decades. Vital is to note that the cases involve participation of states, due to the fact that only such entities, as parties to Chicago Convention are bound by its provisions. Although the core of research is shot-down of civil aeroplanes, also some attention is focused on loss of military aircraft based on the lastly occurred accident involving Russian Su-24 having performed an overflight in Turkish aerospace. Conclusions in the last part of the article include approval of international community’s actions taking efforts to eliminate the problem of aircraft shot-downs, as well as criticism of flaws of current international law regulations.

• Details
• Contents