An intermediate step to fully autonomous flight is single-pilot operations. Most operations involving larger jets require two crew members at all times. The single-pilot concept places one in the cockpit and another on the ground. The pilot on the ground might be monitoring several flights and be able to ‘fly’ the plane to landing from the ground via computer in the event of pilot incapacitation.
This would save considerable expense, but would also require no small measure of public acceptance before it would be used for passenger flights. It’s an interesting concept, and one in which improvements in connectivity technology increasingly supports.
Here’s a 2014 NASA paper on the subject.
https://human-factors.arc.nasa.gov/publications/HCIAero2014_Bilimoria.pdf
>>The pilot on the ground might be monitoring several flights and be able to ‘fly’ the plane to landing from the ground via computer in the event of pilot incapacitation.<<
Or a hacker can take over and fly the plane into a building without need of personal martyrdom.