Airline Pilot's Expert Answers On How We (The Passengers) Can Help Stop Hijackings

My name is John BXXXX. I am a DC-10 Captain for FedEx. I am also a (reserve)Police Officer for the Memphis Police Department. My purpose in writing this is to share some of my thoughts regarding actions a pilot might consider when faced with a modern-day hijacker. These thoughts are "outside-the-box" when it comes to the way we've all been trained. Neither the FAA nor our companies will suggest any of these techniques or implement them as a part of our normal training cycles. They couldn't for fear of lawsuits.

I am distributing this via e-mail to buddies I've flown with. I'm asking them to send it to their circle of friends within the industry, and for you to send it to yours. I know most of us have e-mail, and I hope this reaches the next to face the horror of some religious fanatic onboard. We have all had "training" in what to do in case of a hijacking; try to keep the hijacker calm, make him think you're doing what he wants, take him where ever he wants to go, etc., etc., etc. Save your passengers, your crew, and your aircraft.

In an emergency, you will revert to that training. When our unfortunate peers were faced with the screams of the Flight Attendants and hijacker's demands to open the cockpit door, their training probably made them open the door. When the fanatics made demands, their training told them to comply as best they could. I can only wonder what their thoughts were as they left the cockpit and were tied up in the back of the plane; what they thought as they descended over New York... I hope the fanatics had to kill them in their seats and drag their dead bodies out of the cockpit. But, I bet they did as they were trained to do...

As you look back over recent hijackings, FedEx, Egypt Air, and now the September 11th hijackings, you see a perpetrator who, for one reason or another wants to take over the airplane and kill himself. Each of these hijackers, except for the FedEx incident, were successful. They took over the airplane and killed everyone onboard. If you're following the news programs today, you hear a lot about how we could let these hijackers learn to fly. You would think if knowing how to fly would guarantee a successful hijacking, Auburn Calloway (the FedEx hijacker) would have been a hijacker success story. He was a Navy pilot, a martial arts student, a fellow FedEx crewmember, and he took all the weapons he needed: hammers, knives and a spear gun. He didn't have to overcome any Flight Attendants or demand they open the cockpit door. He just went back to his bag, took out his hammer came back into the cockpit and started crushing skulls.

The crewmembers on that flight didn't worry about Flight Attendants; they didn't worry about passengers. All three pilots left the cockpit and fought a hand-to-hand, life-or-death battle. To survive today's hijacker, you cannot worry about your passengers; you cannot worry about your Flight Attendants. You must develop a mind-set that everyone onboard - including yourself - is already dead. Because, if the hijacker is successful in taking over your airplane, not only you, your crew, your passengers and your aircraft are lost, but thousands on the ground are at risk. One of the reasons the FedEx crew survived, is the extraordinary actions of the co-pilot. Although he had brain injury, the co-pilot took the DC-10 and immediately executed a half-roll. This maneuver took the hijacker off his feet as the Captain and S/O were struggling with him. During a point in the maneuver, the hijacker, Captain and S/O were thrown back behind the cockpit door. When he righted the airplane, the F/O then left his seat and joined the fight in the galley area of the plane. It was only after the Captain determined the hijacker was subdued, he returned to the cockpit and flew the airplane to landing. Very few of us have had to confront true evil. Fewer still have seriously considered taking the life of another human being. I believe this is the reason the FedEx crew did not kill their attacker. The crew's heroism that day is beyond belief and any action that leads to a safe landing and recovery cannot be argued with. But, when the Captain left the F/O and S/O, thinking the situation was under control, he was mistaken. The F/O and S/O had sustained serious, life threatening injuries. The hijacker had not. As the Captain flew the aircraft, the hijacker, who had surrendered, began the fight anew. As the airplane landed, the hijacker was just moments away from overcoming the two crewmembers.

I mention this for your consideration. I would suggest that you make the conscious decision to kill anyone who tries to take your airplane from you. Today we are at war. The hijacker who comes through your cockpit door is going to kill you and everyone onboard.

The Intercom. Command that all men come forward and fight with the hijackers. You have many able-bodied men onboard. They are sitting in shock not knowing what to do. Command they come forward and help you kill your attackers.

The Airplane. Get the hijackers off their feet. Go into an immediate dive to float them to the ceiling. Then execute a 6G positive maneuver and hope they hit their head or break their back as they hit the floor, galley shelf, etc. Dump the cabin - maybe one of the hijackers has a head cold. Pull the fire handles, shut the start levers and turn the fuel valves off. If you lose the battle, at least the airplane won't be used as a guided missile on a kamikaze mission. With luck, maybe these guys didn't learn how to do an in-flight restart. Then leave the cockpit - all of you, and kill your attackers - don't believe it when they surrender - don't be nice to them - KILL THEM.

Flare Gun. If your airplane has one, the Captain might consider making sure it's loaded and secured next to his bag.

The Crash-Axe. I would suggest you have your co-pilot take it from its holder and secure it next to him so he has it immediately available.

Your Flashlight. The FAA use to require a 2 cell. A 3 cell Mag-Light that makes an excellent weapon. If your maneuvers have the hijackers on the floor writhing in pain.

Your 'Stolen' Hotel Bic Pen: an attacker's eye, ear, throat, or into the area just under the jawbone...

Your Hand and Fingers: eyes are a good target (It will confuse the hell out of him when he finds himself looking at his shoes as they dangle there on the ocular nerves).

Your Teeth. Remember Hannibal Lecter. Eat a nose, a cheek, or a finger. And keep eating. Attack with all viciousness. A piranha is a small fish, but it's greatly feared. A hijacker is not expecting you to eat him and it might make him forget why he got on your airplane to begin with. It will, at least, impress his buddies.

Now here's my wish list of things the FAA could do to help, especially in this time of war.

Arm the Captain. The battle is not going to require any long shots and a small revolver would be a good choice. It would hold off the attackers long enough for you to disable your aircraft. If the attackers claimed the red package they were holding was a bomb, I'd shoot out the door glass and hope the door would be ripped out and the hijacker and his package would be sucked out. And hey, I if I got sucked out with him, I'd try to fly myself to the hijacker look in his face and laugh at him all the way to the ground.

Invite the Local Police to Jump Seat. Police are always looking for something free. Donut shops use to be a favorite target for robbers - until they started giving donuts to the Police. Robbers don't rob donut shops anymore. I would suggest each Police Department send the FAA a list of the best shots on the department and those guys and their guns would be welcome on my airplane. Fill every vacant seat with armed Police - give them a donut - and tell them to shoot anyone who gives your Flight Attendant any problems.

Stop this Silly No-Knife Rule. Make it public. Tell the public they're welcome to bring their pocketknives onboard. Then everyone will bring them. When you make your intercom call for help, you'll have a dozen or more knife wielding helpers trying to make sure their new Gerber tastes fanatics blood. There are even a few of them who'd want to keep ears as souvenirs. Law enforcement agencies are all aware there are copycat criminals and fanatics. We have a number of loony fanatical hate-groups here in the USA: ALF, PETA, KKK, Army of God, Anti-abortionists, and the list goes on. It doesn't matter the size of your airplane. Right now, as I write this, there is an anti-abortionist escapee here in the Memphis area. He's seen what happened at the World Trade Center. A small commuter plane would do a great job on an abortion clinic, or on an animal research facility, or on a local synagogue, mosque, etc., etc., etc... None of us is immune. Take some time and consider your actions if this event should ever happen to you.

Sorry, you lose.

Courts have ruled 2d ammendment is not absolute. Arab terrorists do not have the right to park outside your house with their .50 cal. Convicted child molester does not have the right to come after your daughter, wife with a .40 in his pocket.

Search is not for purpose of arrest, but to reasonably prevent a crime from occuring. You have no Constitutional right to be on an airliner. The search is a condition of your carrriage contract. You may refuse the search, but you will not be boarded.

Actually, the second amendment IS absolute. "...shall not be infringed" does not leave much wiggle room, does it? Short of weapons of mass destruction, which, IMHO, no one needs for any reason, anyone may possess any weapon or weapons system he can afford. Article 1 section 8 Clause 11 further clarifies this when it grants Congress the power to "declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water." Letters of Marque and Reprisal (see a sample at: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~jacktar/yourown.html ) concern armed, private vessels. These vessels could most surely be in existence today, armed with the latest of naval weaponry and be fully protected under the Second Amendment.

So, in fact, Constitutionally speaking, YOU lose.

An airliner is a private conveyance. I am STILL trying to figure out how it is that FedGov managed to usurp the power to regulate them without a huge hue and cry... nonetheless, you do NOT have to allow yourself to be searched sans warrant and you can still be boarded. The search is NOT a condition of carriage and I challenge you to back up your assertion with evidence. NOR is there any REASONABLE expectation that such searches can or will prevent any crime. This assertion is mind-boggling!

I have chosen not to fly because of it. However, shortly I will be forced to do so because I can't drive overseas. I am certain that I am at great risk because of this person.

I also no longer fly because my claustrophobia has become too great to ignore. The shortness of breath and chest pains that I've had in the past are just not worth ignoring any longer. The joint pain that I often have doesn't give me incentive to fly either. I'm sure that part of my increased anxiety is a result of knowing that most of what has been done since 9/11 only makes us more vulnerable. I also may have to fly to Europe someday on business, and I am dreading that day.

WFTR
Last Flight
Bill

Actually...... no

The Second Ammendment is not absolute, as you confirm in your next sentence when you deny every decent law abiding citizen the right to possess a 280mm Atomic Cannon! { :~) } IMHO has very important meaning here. You are giving your opinion the force of law.

Remember, rights, once granted, are not just for you. They are for everyone, even those we would hold to be dangerous in the exercise of those rights.

The Constitution, as interpreted by the Courts, is the law of the land. Interpreted by the Courts, not interpreted by the NRA, the ALCU, Sarah Brady, Leon Trosky, Che Gevarra, the ADA, the American Nazi Party, you, me or Hillary Clinton.

PS, thank goodness the Constitution is open to interpretation. Without such Court interpretation, there would be no freedom on the Internet, no Rush Limbaugh, etc. The Constitution makes no mention of "Freedom of Electrons."

WHO, in your opinion, "grants" rights? Is it FedGov? The Constitution? The Supremes? Who?

The correct answer is, "NONE of the above." RIGHTS are granted by (take your choice) Nature or Nature's God. The Constitution, for the first time in recorded history, requires government to RECOGNIZE these rights. It does NOT grant them, for the very simple reason that what gooberment gives gooberment can take away. A change in regime, in public attitude andwhoops... there it goes.

What I said is that WMDs are not, in MY opinion, suited for keeping and bearing by ANYONE. This includes gooberment. Up to that point, ANYTHING someone can afford to keep and bear, whether it be a .45 or an F-16 or an aircraft carrier battle group, is fine with me. Recall that the rationale underlying the RKBA is to instill a sense of fear into gooberment with the possession of arms by the populace. It is not and must not become the other way 'round.

Further, it was INTENDED that anyone at all was to be able to interpret the Constitution. Why do you suppose the founders wrote it in language so easy for anyone to understand? The Supremes, in Marbury v. Madison, ASSUMED the authority to interpret and enforce it.

Further, there need be no "interpretation" of it. The Constitution is a limit on GOVERNMENT. How could limiting government possibly mean that we would not have an internet or talk radio (Brian Wilson has it all over El Rushbo)? There need be no mention of such "Freedom of Electrons;" that's covered by both the 9th and 10th amendments. Do you REALLY believe that FedGov is the source of your rights? Sad if you do!

"You have no Constitutional right to be on an airliner. The search is a condition of your carrriage contract."

You are correct.

I have no problem if a private company, an airline company, wishes, as part of their marketing plan and modus operandi to attract custmers, search all their customers before they board the aircraft. And of course, the an airline, as part of their marketing plan to attract customers, encourage their customers to exert their 2nd amendment right.

That is their private property. It is their call.

I do have a constitutional right not to be search by my government without a sworn affidavit describing probable cause, where and what I am to be search for and what will be seized.

Bill of Rights, not privileges, Amendment IV.

Do you now understand the distinction? Free people live in the world I describe above. Slaves and serfs live in the world where the mass, unconstitutional searches are performed without following the instructions of Amendment IV.

"Your papers, please?"

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