If you'd read the article, you'd know that after the panic button is pushed once the pilot or co pilot only has 20 secs to punch in a 4 digit code to reverse the panic button..The panic button if pushed once more has to have another 4 digit code punched into it to take it off again and it can't be the 4 digit code previously used. After that, if the panic button is pushed then nothing and no one can take the plane off autopilot and autolanding at nearest available safe airport mode.
There would be a panic button close to pilot, one close to copilot, two on either side of the forward part of the plane and two panic buttons on either side of the back part of plane.
That takes all control of the plane from the pilots and the hijackers and there is nothing that anyone can do about it if the panic button is engaged. The hijackers could blow the plane up, murder all the passengers but wouldn't be able to use the plane as a flying bomb.
Also, there are numerous ways they could make this safe from hijacker tampering.
It's a great idea and that's what technology is for..to help people to serve people.
A billion dollar solution to a .50 cent problem is not what I would term efficient or optimal.
---max