So - what exactly do you do with a captured and hidden airliner?
Answer: repaint it, use stolen transponder codes, then fly it into the airspace above an unsuspecting target and detonate the warhead it’s carrying. Could be Chem, could be bio, could be a “dirty” radiological weapon, or it could be a nuke.
The coincidental part of this is that all of those weapons are far more effective when exploded high above the target.
Al Qaeda, baby.
I suspect you are correct. Additionally, the passengers are probably still alive and will be used to allow the aircraft into any airspace they seek by holding them hostage with massive publicity. Nobody will want to assume responsibility for shooting them down with out confirmation of the payload.
what is a “stolen transponder code”?