You're absolutely right! We have on the one hand the rights of one pilot (with an uncomfortable close terrorist connection, and stated sympathetic views to 911) and some suspiciously bizarre connections to people as stated versus the rights of a 747 load of innocent passengers and crew and their rights to as much safety and security as this PC-ridden world will allow. The several commentators here who harp on about the rights of the individual appear to believe they trump the rights of complete safety for the airline and its passengers.
The nutters are still out there. They come from branches of one religion, and they set fire to their shoes and underpants inflight, have an unholy fascination with death, murder, destruction of non-believers. We've seen they can come from any background at any time, but with one thing in common.
I, for one, am proud that my former employer has put complete safety of our passengers and crew and the general public, who may become a target, when sufficient doubt exists ahead of considerations for this one individual's 'rights' such that it may be punished for doing so. The many, many potential victims rights are paramount, not this man's. That's not BA being beastly- that's BA responding to a severe and current threat-action had to be taken, and well done!