skyjacking

UK: /ˈskaɪdʒækɪŋ/ US: (skī′jak′ing)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sky•jack•ing  (skī′jak′ing), n. 

1. an act or instance of hijacking an aircraft.

• skyjack + -ing¹ 1965–70

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

sky•jack /ˈskaɪˌdʒæk/   v. [~ + object]

1. to hijack (an airliner).

sky•jack•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sky•jack  (skī′jak′), v.t. 

1. to hijack (an airliner), esp. in order to hold the passengers and plane for ransom or for political reasons.

• sky + (hi)jack 1965–70

sky′jack′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

skyjack / ˈskaɪˌdʒæk/ verb

1. (transitive) to commandeer (an aircraft), usually at gunpoint during flight, forcing the pilot to fly somewhere other than to the scheduled destination

Etymology: 20th Century: from sky + hijack