Ragbag,
The point I'm trying to make is that accidents WILL happen and a hijacking MAY happen. I'm not an expert on airliners, so correct me if I'm wrong, but a round passing through the side of a pressurised aircraft at high altitude is a bad thing? As to actual bullet- at low velocity so-called expanding bullets don't, therefore the greater the calibre, the greater the chance of hitting something vital, so for serious social use you are talking about .45. I don't know who loaded your .38 special rounds, but none of mine ever lodged in the plywood target backing. What really matters is bullet placement, and only an expert, in constant practice is likely to deliver this under stressful conditions. Mossad use a low velocity .22, which is devastatingly effective when delivered to the back of the head at 3 feet! Actual statistics gathered by the American police about the effectiveness of .38 special make gloomy reading. (The best performing rounds 9mm hollowpoint and .45 are about 80% effective with a central body hit- .38 half that). In close confines if I had the choice between a handgun or a proper knife, the knife would be my choice. It never jams, is always loaded, has a much better stopping effect and is far less likely to harm an innocent party. Possibly the best argument for arming aircrew is as a deterrent, but IMHO the advantages are outweighed by the disadvantages.