# Plane hijacks - The Solution! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059 "2001-09-17T02:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/1 "2001-09-17T02:19:26Z")
I was considering all the different methods of preventing hijacking but they all have drawbacks: The Sealed Cockpit Theory Drawback - If the pilots got ill or went unconscious due to loss of cabin pressure, the passengers wouldn’t be able to get into the cockpit to try to land the plane. The Overt Armed Guard Theory Drawback - The hijackers could just shoot them (if they’ve smuggled a gun on board). The Covert Armed Guard Theory Drawback - One of hijackers could cause a distraction by creating an air-rage incident. This would force the plain-clothes guards to reveal themselves. The Sleeping-Gas Theory The pilot pushes a button and the passenger cabin fills with sleeping gas which puts everyone to sleep. Drawback - Vulnerable passengers such as children or the elderly may be killed by an adult dose of sleeping gas. Not to mention the fact that the hijackers may have smuggled gas masks on themselves so you would end up in a worse situation than you were in before. Everyone is asleep. Various other theories also seem to have their drawbacks. But then it struck me. The perfect solution. It would be so simple yet so effective. You arm everyone. It seems a bold move but it is the only solution that seems to offer 100% protection from hijackers. Within two seconds of someone standing up on a plane to announce “Hi, Im a hijacker” he’ll have 200 guns trained on him. Obviously it would be dangerous to have so many guns around so rather than use actual guns and bullets we could use tranquiliser darts that would just put the hijacker (or the air-rager) to sleep. This simple method would virtually eliminate hijacking and air-rage. And it would solve the problem of breaches of security wherein hijackers smuggle guns on board. Hey, feel free to smuggle a gun on board - there’s no point since we all get one on the house. Am I a genius or what? ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/2 "2001-09-17T02:25:27Z")
I admit, I actually wondered about tranquilizer darts (I saw Firestarter). I have no actual clue as to how or if they’d work, but I do know discharging a firearm in a pressurized airplane is a no-no (I also saw Aiport 77). I would suspect that tranqs would be just as susceptible to, er, hijacking, as any other weapon would be, though. In other words, we can’t guarantee the hand administering the tranq is the hand we intended to have do so. ---
**Author:** ![Bgo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@Bgo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bgo1)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/3 "2001-09-17T02:25:39Z")
works for me! ---
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/4 "2001-09-17T02:42:09Z")
Also, in order to avoid the problem of people firing the tranquiliser guns for the wrong reasons or some lone crazy firing his gun into everyone around him, each gun would have only one dart. And they would all be in locked holsters by your seat. The holsters would be unlocked by the air stewardesses or by the cockpit crew pushing a button releasing the guns. This would ensure that passengers would only be able to get hold of the guns in a genuine emergency. ---
**Author:** ![PlanMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PlanMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlanMan)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/5 "2001-09-17T02:51:47Z")
Back when hijackings were taking place with great regularity, some wacked pundit suggested two solutions: 1. as stated above arm everybody – I like the tranq dart variation 2. to completely eliminate hidden weapons a. No carry-on baggage, and small items like purses thoroughly hand searched, and b. Everyone flies naked. submitted for your approval… ---
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/6 "2001-09-17T02:58:30Z")
The “naked” solution wouldn’t work because, as anyone with young children will know, if you have young children on any kind of longish flight you need loads of stuff - diapers, toys, food, drink etc. We couldn’t eliminate hand luggage in all cases. But we **can** arm everyone so that remains the only solution. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/7 "2001-09-17T03:31:07Z")
\>\>But we can arm everyone so that remains the only solution. Agreed, it is the only reasonable solution. The only problem with it is I think this would keep the cute stewardess very busy leaning over my seat which I can’t seem to keep locked in its standard upright position. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/8 "2001-09-17T03:41:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xanakis \* > **The Covert Armed Guard Theory** Been thought of already. Wesley Snipes in _Passenger 57_. “How do you want your steak, sir?” “Bloody!” _\_ He’s an ex-cop with a bad mouth and a bad attitude. For the terrorists on flight 163, he’s very bad news. ---
**Author:** ![Chickenhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chickenhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickenhead)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/9 "2001-09-17T04:45:52Z")
If everyone were armed with tranquilizers, I would probably discharge my weapon toward someone on every flight. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/10 "2001-09-17T05:52:23Z")
\>\>\>If everyone were armed with tranquilizers, I would probably discharge my weapon toward someone on every flight. Forgive me **Chickenhead** but I am honestly laughing out loud. This has got to be the funniest thread I’ve read in months 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/11 "2001-09-17T19:48:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chickenhead \* > \*\*If everyone were armed with tranquilizers, I would probably discharge my weapon toward someone on every flight. \*\* I’m with chickenhead on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/12 "2001-09-17T20:00:34Z")
How about mandatory seat belts? They’d have remotely-controlled locks that only unlocked from the cockpit. People only get unlocked one at a time to get walked to the lavatory by a sky marshal. About as practical as arming everybody or flying naked. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/13 "2001-09-17T20:15:41Z")
> [@](#): > > You arm everyone. > > It seems a bold move but it is the only solution that seems to offer 100% protection from hijackers. Within two seconds of someone standing up on a plane to announce “Hi, Im a hijacker” he’ll have 200 guns trained on him. > > Obviously it would be dangerous to have so many guns around so rather than use actual guns and bullets we could use tranquiliser darts that would just put the hijacker (or the air-rager) to sleep. > > This simple method would virtually eliminate hijacking and air-rage. And it would solve the problem of breaches of security wherein hijackers smuggle guns on board. Hey, feel free to smuggle a gun on board - there’s no point since we all get one on the house. > > Am I a genius or what? This actually showed up as a three-panel Don Martin cartoon in **Mad** magazine in the 1970s. I _swear_, I think that _everything_ shows up first in Mad. It’s just that nobody takes it seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/14 "2001-09-17T20:47:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xanakis \* > \*\* > Am I a genius or what? \*\* I’m going to go with the ‘what’ option. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/15 "2001-09-17T21:01:49Z")
I did a quick vanity check, and my username just came up about a hundred times! I _like_ the tranq dart idea! I’d get credit for stoping every hijacking htat happens from now on. Just make sure mine has two strengths. One for terrorists, and one for the obnoxious punk behind me, the one that’s been kicking my seat for the last 1000 miles… ---
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/16 "2001-09-18T00:49:16Z")
Hmm, my plan may be a bit radical but nobody has come up with an actual reason why it wouldn’t work. Remember the guns would be locked down until a genuine crisis emerged so people wouldn’t be able to use them in ordinary circumstances. The Air Stewardesses and the pilots would have “Panic Buttons” that would release the guns. This plan would also be a lot cheaper than having armed guards or FBI agents on every commercial flight. The US Government has announced that there will be FBI on all commercial flights from now on but how long can they keep this up for? Maybe a year or two but what then? Back to the situation we had before Tuesday, presumably. With maybe a bit extra security at the check-in desk. My solution is cheap, 100% effective and permanent. So why not do it? ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/17 "2001-09-18T01:24:49Z")
I’d think that a volley of tranqulizer darts would: 1. Piss off the target (until the tranq took effect) causing a potential for more injuries. 2. Kill them (if enough people are a good shot), which is bad if it’s just an angry, drunk Grandmother taking a shit on a beverage cart. 3. Hurt or kill innocent bystanders (who get hit by the people that aren’t good shots). Very bad! Unfortunately, I don’t have a better solution. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/18 "2001-09-18T01:39:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xanakis \* > \*\* > My solution is cheap, 100% effective and permanent. > > So why not do it? \*\* Because it’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye! ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/19 "2001-09-18T01:46:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > Because it’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye! \*\* Who let my mother in here? ---
**Author:** ![xanakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7bcc69/32.png) [@xanakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanakis)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059/20 "2001-09-18T02:25:05Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Piss off the target (until the tranq took effect) causing a potential for more injuries. Better that than the hijacker gains control of the aircraft. And anyway 50 darts hitting him all at once would probably knock him out pretty quick. > [@](#): > > 1. Kill them (if enough people are a good shot), which is bad if it’s just an angry, drunk Grandmother taking a shit on a beverage cart. OK, maybe we shouldn’t use it for air rage, just bona fide hijacks. > [@](#): > > 1. Hurt or kill innocent bystanders (who get hit by the people that aren’t good shots). Very bad! These would only be tranquiliser darts not bullets. Anyone hit would go to sleep. There may be one or two casualties over the years but since they would only be used in the rare event of a hijacking, casualties would be minimal. And anyway no one would hijack a plane if they knew all the passengers had access to tranquiliser guns so hijackings would probably never happen. So the guns would probably never actually be needed. They would fulfill their role by being a deterrent. > [@](#): > > Because it’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye! As I say, they would only become available to the passengers in the event of a genuine hijacking. I would suggest my method is a lot more certain to foil the hijackers plans than the idea that we rely on a few brave passengers to go and tackle the bad guys empty-handed. My method would have stopped in their tracks all those hijackers on Tuesday. In fact those hijackers wouldn’t have even attempted it if all the passengers had had access to arms. So Im still waiting for a decent reason why we don’t do it. (Im aware it seems a bit radical but I honestly can’t see why it wouldn’t work.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-hijacks-the-solution/82059.md?page=2)