Aircraft like A320/A330/A340/B737/B747/B757/B767/B777 were designed in the 1980's, early 1990' s with proven technologies from the '70' s.
The philosphy back in the '60' s was an automation that assist pilots.
The designers of the '80' s decided to couple automation with computers (FMC) using 1970' s computer technology, reducing the pilot' s function to monitoring the automation-FMC combination in non-critical phases of flight.
With the advance of UAV technology and other remote processing systems, the automation - 2010 computer technology - remote processing combination will certainly remove at least one pilot from the cabin.
A cabin smoke/fire situation can be processed on a flightcrew less aircraft as follows:
Smoke on board, smoke detection by sensors, information passed to on-board computer system and to a team of remote operators as a warning.
Variable smoke density sensors and remote operators using on-board camera' s can determine the extent of the situation. The computer can do all the checklists and the remote operator can be assisted in real time by a team of mechanics to determine the potential cause and risks of the fire.
The remote operators team can then decide to divert the flight to the nearest airport or if unable to reach one on time, determine the nearest forced landing location based on a database and real-time satellite imagery.
Examples of on-board fires that ended-up fatal:
Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
To the BAC 1-11 with the windshield torn off in flight, it wouldn' t have made a difference if the aircraft was autonomous and remotely controllable.
The DHL A300 in Baghdad, a master piece of flying.
Yet the PCA (Propulsion Controlled Aircraft) concept has been tested and can be installed on any recent aircraft to control aircraft in case of total flight controls failure:
NASA - Propulsion Controlled Aircraft (PCA)
I think that the A320/B737NG replacement (2027 entry into service) will be autonomous operations with a single monitoring pilot and remote operators, with the monitoring pilot progressively removed by 2040 and airliners becoming a largely autonomous with remote monitoring operation.