[QUOTE][ Terrorists can take a pilots family hostage and coerce the pilot into smuggling something through security and handing it over to another terrorist who is waiting inside the security zone./QUOTE]
Whilst I hesitate to cross swords with the more knowledgeable posters on this thread, I really can't let the above ridiculous statement go unchallenged.
The nature of the job dictates that Flightdeck crew are of above -average intelligence, reasoning power and intellect.
You REALLY think that in the above "hostage" scenario, ANY pilot would smuggle the means to destroy @300 souls and TRUST that the ruthless fanatics would release the odd few hostages unharmed.?
make the contact airside, poke your fingers in his eyes, stamp his nuts to beaver's tails....whatever it takes...AFTER you've notified the authorities.
I'm sure that even that bunch of incompetents has some sort of "plan" in place for such an eventuality.