But boxcutters were found on at least 3 grounded planes after the fact on September 11. Either potential hijackers quickly hid them in case they were searched when they returned to the gate after the flights were canceled, or someone hid them before the passengers boarded the plane for in-flight use later. 12 flights that returned to the gate September 12 had Arabs sitting in the jump seat in the cockpit as "courtesy guests."
Also there are many foreign workers cleaning the planes and doing maintenance and security. Americans are being stripped of any possible tool of self-defense and now we are being asked to stop hijackers with our bare hands while they are likely to have weapons. Nope---I'm not flying but anyone who wants to can, but please try to keep your plane from crashing into buildings while you're up there.