Can you shoot people parachuting in war?

The law of war does not prohibit firing upon paratroops or other persons who are or appear to be bound upon hostile missions while such persons are descending by parachute. No person parachuting from an aircraft in distress shall be made the object of attack during his descent.

Do war crimes apply outside of war?

Elements of the Crime As a result, and in contrast to the crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity, war crimes must always take place in the context of an armed conflict, either international or non-international.

Is it a war crime to shoot a pilot after he parachutes?

It’s a war crime to shoot a pilot after he parachutes out of his aircraft for the same reason it’s a crime to shoot people in a lifeboat. They’re not considered to be in the fight anymore. It is a war crime to shoot enemy Prisoners of War.

Is it a war crime to attack an ejected pilot?

According to the convention of Geneva an ejected pilot in the air is not a combatant and therefore attacking him is a war crime. Once he landed, the situation changes again. If he doesn’t surrender he is an ordinary enemy and could be chased like any other enemy around.

What would happen if you attacked a pilot in the air?

According to the convention of Geneva an ejected pilot in the air is not a combatant and therefore attacking him is a war crime. Once he landed, the situation changes again. If he doesn’t surrender he is an ordinary enemy and could be chased like any other enemy around. The situation is completely different…

Can a pilot be considered a non-combatant?

Yes, off course! A pilot who is out of the airplane or helicopter while still in the air is hors de combat (out of combat). By that moment, he is not a combatant anymore, but a non-combatant. A pilot’s job is to engage air-to-air combat and to attack ground troops from the air.