What is the difference between Hijack and Kidnap?

Kidnap and Hijack are both verbs which refer to an event of stealing or taking over regardless of consent. Even though these two words are used in a look-alike manner and even sometimes occur together, there is however a very important variation between the two, a knowledge of which is paramount in a bid to understand their usage. To kidnap means to seize or take a person or people unlawfully or without permission and take them as an inmate. It is generally used to portray people in a prison situation. The kidnapper asks for something most times in order for them to set free the hostages.

To hijack means to stop and seize a means of transportation unlawfully or by force, means of transportation, such as an airplane, car, bus, etc. often a practice of criminals who are known to for example hijack a vehicle, use it for criminal purposes like robbery and the likes.

Kidnapping is to abduct or steal a person by force without their consent and proceed to hold them hostage. Generally, the kidnapper demands some sort of ransom for the person they have kidnapped. Most of the time, with a kidnapping, the kidnapper is looking for money or a monetary payoff. Sometimes they will tie the person to a chair and tape over their mouth, as this is often seen in action movies.

On the other hand, hijacking someone means to take with conveyance by force. A person or group of people takes control of the vehicle. Conveyance refers to a car or other ways of transportation, such as an airplane, car, truck, or boat. Criminals hijack vehicles to use it for their purposes, rather than the purpose for which it was meant.