Capt A-320: Good points, but the context of my ideas included people who plan to land in a friendly country and go with money or whatever to a safe haven, as has happened many times in the past.
I did not realize that the events of Sept 11 guarantee that the previous types of hijackings, where the criminals have long range plans (after the hijacking: maybe my words were too subtle), will never happen again. There still are psychotic and politically-motivated nuts out there, unless they all just disappeared overnight.
As for any possible suicidal types, should not the airlines always allow several male passengers to sit in first class, in order to be near the front galley and cockpit, having agreed before boarding to assist the crew if any nuts, drunken jerks or hijackers became hostile?
[ 06 October 2001: Message edited by: Ignition Override ]