In Canada the pilot-in-command of an aircraft is a Peace Officer, exactly like a police officer, justice of the peace, or warden. My understanding is that the Captain can charge persons under the Aeronautics Act for items such as unlawful interference or interfering with a flight crew. Can any Canadian pilots confirm this? Does anyone know of a PIC ever exercising this authority?
Not that this power of arrest is worth anything on a hijacked aircraft.
Don’t American pilots have this same authority?