Warning shot

A warning shot (in nautical terms, often called a shot across the bow) is a harmless artillery shot or gunshot intended to call attention and demand some action.

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During the 18th Century, a warning shot could be fired toward any ship whose colours (nationality) had to be ascertained. According to the law of the sea, a ship thusly hailed had to fly her flag and confirm it with a gunshot.

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Warning shots are also used in military aviation, to demand some action of an "enemy" aircraft; the most common demand would be for the aircraft to change course. The ostensible justification for firing shots is that cannon bullets are very bright and would immediately gain the attention of a crew whose radio is non-functioning, and which might not have noticed radio transmissions. The actual justification is that warning shots demonstrate the ability to shoot, and cause fear in the aircraft's crew that they will be the next ones to receive bullets if they do not comply with demands.

Related Topics:
Military aviation - Cannon

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One notorious lack of a warning shot when one was demanded was the shootdown of KAL Flight 007, in which a Soviet fighter plane used a missile to shoot down a civilian Boeing 747 that had violated Soviet airspace. 269 people were killed. If the pilot had fired warning shots, this would have forced the pilot to change course, as he would have been alerted unmistakably that failure to change course would result in a shootdown.

Related Topics:
KAL Flight 007 - Boeing 747

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On the ground, a warning shot from a pistol, rifle, or shotgun is fired into the air, and is a sufficiently aggressive act to demand attention, and alert onlookers that they might be shot if directions are not followed.

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By analogy, "warning shot" can be said of any action of declaration, especially a demonstration of power, intended or perceived as a last warning before hostile measures.

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