[supercat]

Give the pilots the means to defend the cockpit, surely. But if you want me to get on an aircraft, you will not deny me the means to defend myself, even a pocket knife would help.

I'm with you there. In the close quarters of an airplane cabin, a firearm's advantage over a bladed or blunt weapon are much smaller than in a more open environment. Allowing passengers to have at least a small blade would ensure that passengers' advantage in numbers would outweigh a terrorist's advantage in weaponry or training.

[Smokin' Joe]

Heck, Just issue everyone a K-Bar.

If there are more terrorists than passengers, the terorists will win (a pyrhic victory). Otherwise, the passengers should overcome.

Bloody, granted, and quite possibly a bit of a free-for-all, but cheap and effective.