# Would you fight if your Plane was Hijacked? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111 "2004-06-07T16:03:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/61 "2004-06-08T01:34:11Z")
I’m not really sure. My factors to consider… -I am physically able to take on most as a life long athlete in contact sports. -I like to go into a situation generally knowing what the outcome will be, I hate surprises. -I have a strong sense of personal survival -I have a strong protective insitinct -I have problems with nerves but am able to overcome this with the right incentive. -I absolutely no fear of fear of getting sick or hurt (I really don’t and it’s not being macho, the thought of worrying about a virus going around or getting hurt playing a sport never even crosses my mind, I just don’t think about it) -I have a tremendous fear of guns and refuse to be anywhere near them (don’t have a huge problem with others using them just not near me) -I have no fear of knives. You take all this into consideration and what would happen with me is I would try to figure out the type of terrorist. If they seem rather level headed and have some simple demands not only would I not do anything I would ensure my fellow passengers didn’t do anything stupid. There’s no sense getting hurt when there’s no need. If the terrorist simply wants to kill as many people as possible, then I’d look for numbers and a weapon. A single terrorist with a knife and I"d probably try to take them out myself. Multiple terrorists with knives and I’d try to get as many people as possible to rush them - but not too many. Maybe 3:1? If it’s one terrorist with a gun and I am behind them, I’d jump them. If I was in front of them I’d try to get someone else who is behind him to jump him. Then I’d help from the front after the initial tackle. If it’s multiple terrorists with guns I would panic. Plain and simple. I don’t know what I’d do. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/62 "2004-06-08T01:53:42Z")
I once said, not long after 9/11, that no American flight will ever be successfully hijacked again. I still believe I’m right. In fact, I find it kind of hard to believe that any terrorist would ever try that tactic again, though I could easily be wrong. Personally? I don’t know. I’d like to think I would, but I’ve never cared for hypotheticals. ---
**Author:** ![myrnajean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@myrnajean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myrnajean)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/63 "2004-06-08T15:14:23Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > You would be a fool not to. What do you have to lose? If you do nothing you’re already dead, but if you go after the guy you’ll at least have a fighting chance to live. > > That is, assuming that this is a 9/11-type hijacking. If it were a Take me to the nearest airport and land because I’m a freedom fighter and I want my people released type deal, like Entebbe was, then I’d probably sit on my hands unless I had no other choice. The Freedom Fighters of the future probably won’t be hijacking too many planes anymore, me thinks. Everyone on the plane is instantly going to think its life or death. (HiJacker: "I am hijacking this plane, everyone remain in your seats, we are going to _aaaaaaauuugh-THUMP_ help! he squeeks from under 30 wild eyed passengers. Does anyone think, on the 911 planes that the terrorists said, “Okay, sit down, relax, we’re going to kill you all no matter what you do.” Of course not. The only way to control the passengers was with the hope of survival, IF they behaved, they wouldn’t die. No matter how tough or intimadating you are, if you are in a small metal tube with 150 people who are all convinced that you are going to kill them, your odds are not so good. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/64 "2004-06-08T15:52:43Z")
Just like **wolfman** , the nearest fire extinguisher is the second thing I locate, after the nearest emergency exit. I’ll have to add the luggage mental inventory to my checklist. I have not had a gun in my face before, but a knife, yes. It pisses me off to no end, as in real rage. I have not gotten really angry in about six years or so, and I hope this trend continues. But if the streak is broken at 36,000 feet, I was never really taught how to only hurt someone, only to kill them. The subway mugging analogy is apples and oranges to this scenario. “I don’t want to get involved” is the mindset in the subway. In a plane, you ARE involved. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/65 "2004-06-08T16:03:00Z")
I’ve got to go with Diogenes here (and dammit, that’s the THIRD time I’ve agreed with him) and say that i can sit here and make up grand James Bond scenarios of how I’d subdue the hijackers and safely land the plane WITH extra peanuts for all…but the fact is I’m so afraid of dying and being hurt that I’d definitely be crying, praying, throwing up and possibly peeing while I cowered in my seat. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/66 "2004-06-08T16:06:17Z")
> [@jarbabyj](#): > > I’ve got to go with Diogenes here (and dammit, that’s the THIRD time I’ve agreed with him) Once more before the week is over, and you turn into a pumpkin. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/67 "2004-06-08T16:08:35Z")
are they low in carbs? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/68 "2004-06-08T16:19:24Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > On a recent trip to Chicago (just for 2 days) I was wondering about this Question. I was sitting in 1st class, the second seat from the bulk head. No one next to me, so I was essentially the last passenger before the cockpit. And I was thinking to myself. If this plane were hijacked and a terrorist was trying to get to the cockpit and or take the plane over in one manner or another…what would I do. > I’m 6’2" and roughly 220lbs. I’m not a small guy. I do believe that I would picture my wife, and her sorrow for losing me, and that would fuel the excess adrenaline I would need to do whatever it takes to subdue any insurgence. > I wouldn’t really care if they were weilding a knife of some form or another. My rationale would be that of logic. (split second hopful logic that is) There would be 150 people on the plane that would not want to die. I would rush the terrorist, and maybe get cut, but he would still go down. And I would hope, another passenger would help. > Would you be that passenger? Or would you freeze in utter disbelief and let fate run it’s course, and watch as I alone try to subdue ruthless killers. > > I’d assume adrenaline, and the thought of widowing my wife would be fuel enough to at least mangle a terrorist enough to subdue them. You’d have to get past me to get to them, and I’ll be really glad you’re there. That is a life-or-death situation. One has to assume that they are going to kill you, so you fight like an animal to survive. As a martial artist, I live by the philosophy of “as peaceably as possible, as forceably as necessary”; in this case, weapons have been pulled and all bets are off - it’s a deadly force scenario and I amo going to do my best to kill the hijacker(s) before I am killed through their actions. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/69 "2004-06-08T16:21:22Z")
> [@jarbabyj](#): > > are they low in carbs? Donno, google doesn’t seem to be much help today. Agree once more and you’ll find out. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/70 "2004-06-08T16:45:49Z")
First of all. There is 26 calories and 6.5 Carbohydrates in [Raw](http://www.weightlossforgood.co.uk/nutrition/pumpkin2.htm) pumpkin. 🙂 That said. Seriously: We do not know what we would do. But I’d surmise someone would stand and do _something_. I’d be up for sure. Doing something. > [@](#): > > **Originally posted by Jarbabyj** > I’ve got to go with Diogenes here (and dammit, that’s the THIRD time I’ve agreed with him) and say that i can sit here and make up grand James Bond scenarios of how I’d subdue the hijackers and safely land the plane WITH extra peanuts for all…but the fact is I’m so afraid of dying and being hurt that I’d definitely be crying, praying, throwing up and possibly peeing while I cowered in my seat. I find this not too difficult to believe. Some people are just predesigned to have this response. I, and some of the other posters to this thread are wired differently. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/71 "2004-06-08T17:13:02Z")
Gotta go with **wolfman** on this one. Before 9/11, I would have torn into my carryon luggage for weaponry. I always used to carry a knife or two somewhere on my person or in my bag, along with pepper spray. Not anymore ☹ But luggage makes a pretty good shield from a blade, and I tend to have a “fight” response under extreme pressure. So, yeah. Kill them before they kill you (and others.) Then hope that there are people with lots of experience with Flight Simulators onboard if they have killed the pilots. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/72 "2004-06-08T17:41:54Z")
First of all, of course, I have no way of knowing what I would actually do in such a situation. But fighting back seems the only _logical_ thing to do. Post-9/11 your chances, slim as they might be, would be better regaining control of the plane than hoping the hijackers “chicken out”. Whether any particular one of us could overcome our emotional response to do the logical thing is something else entirely. According to various [news stories](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/10/16/archive/main314846.shtml), air traffic controllers on September 11 heard several messages apparently intended for the passengers aboard the hijacked planes, including “Nobody move, please; we are going back to the airport. Don’t try to make any stupid moves” and “We have some planes. Just stay quiet, and you’ll be OK. We are returning to the airport”. So, yes, it seems pretty certain that the September 11 terrorists attempted to portray the take-overs as “normal” hijackings (“Just stay calm and do as they say and nobody else will get hurt”); the whole plan depended on taking planes with relatively small numbers of passengers using improvised weapons (box cutters rather than Uzis and hand grenades). So I’m afraid the whole “try to figure out what type of hijacking this is” plan just doesn’t work very well in the real world. Another thing to consider: Not only do you have to worry about the hijackers crashing the plane into a building if you don’t regain control, you’ve also got to worry about people on the ground with itchy trigger fingers. (Or people in the air with itchy trigger fingers and Sidewinder missiles.) Since September 11, governments are going to be much more willing to order a hijacked plane shot down if it seems to pose ANY threat of being used in another catastrophic attack, and the public is much more likely to approve of that decision. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/73 "2004-06-08T17:45:14Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Another thing to consider: Not only do you have to worry about the hijackers crashing the plane into a building if you don’t regain control, you’ve also got to worry about people on the ground with itchy trigger fingers. (Or people in the air with itchy trigger fingers and Sidewinder missiles.) Since September 11, governments are going to be much more willing to order a hijacked plane shot down if it seems to pose ANY threat of being used in another catastrophic attack, and the public is much more likely to approve of that decision. Good, albeit, depressing point. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/74 "2004-06-08T17:50:43Z")
The safest assumption, post-9/11, is that _any_ attempted hijacking is for the purpose of slamming the hijacked airplane into a building, thereby killing everyone on board and in the target. If we all assume this, there’s only one possible recourse- mob the hijacker and feed him his own weapon. This makes hijacking all but impossible (given the historical methods of hijacking), if the hijacker knows this is going to happen. So we have to make absolutely certain that any potential hijacker knows this is going to happen. Yeah, it’d be scary. Yeah, the guy in front is likely to die, and maybe a few behind him/her, as well. But if everyone sits around, waiting for the situation to resolve itself peaceably, everyone dies. If this was a peaceable situation, the hijacking wouldn’t have occurred in the first place. Given that kind of math, why _not_ rush the hijacker? Now, nobody can predict exactly how they’ll react in this sort of situation. Bravado aside, until we’re in a situation like that, we simply _can’t_ know. However, I’d like to think that, in a hijacking situation, I’d be the first to plow into the hijacker. I’d also like to think that there’d be many other passengers, either behind me or in front of me, doing the same. As for landing the plane- let that situation resolve itself. I guarantee the FAA has ways to talk non-pilots through the landing of any size of plane. Heck, can’t most modern airliners pretty much land themselves, nowadays? ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/75 "2004-06-08T17:59:25Z")
I’d probably do something. This is not because I’m brave. This is because I usually pick the worst possible time to blow up/stick up for myself. The greater the chance of me getting screwed over, the greater the chance that I’m going to do something. Call me impulsive, call me stupid, but I’d be trying to tackle them or something. Chances are, though, I’d end up diving headlong into a seat instead. But the OP didn’t ask if I’d fight _well_. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/76 "2004-06-08T18:04:49Z")
I agree it is improbably that hijackers would be able to take over a plane in the same fashion on 9/11. However, if we assume they know this…I shudder to think what they would try next. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/77 "2004-06-08T18:13:36Z")
> [@Phlosphr](#): > > However, if we assume they know this…I shudder to think what they would try next. Well, most likely they’ll only be able to smuggle the crudest of weapons aboard, so under 99% of circumstances, we’re looking at 4-1 or 5-1 hand to hand combat in cramped quarters with suicidal nuts. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/78 "2004-06-08T18:35:15Z")
Or maybe they won’t hijack the plane at all, just open up a little plastic vial of small pox and let everyone land safely in New York after breathing the recirculated air! The future’s so bright I gotta wear shades. ---
**Author:** ![Call\_me\_Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Call\_me\_Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Call_me_Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/79 "2004-06-08T19:57:49Z")
> [@Lightnin'](#): > > If we all assume this, there’s only one possible recourse- mob the hijacker and feed him his own weapon. This makes hijacking all but impossible (given the historical methods of hijacking), if the hijacker knows this is going to happen. So we have to make absolutely certain that any potential hijacker knows this is going to happen. I completely agree… I don’t suppose they have a messageboard or mailing address of their own, do they? Good idea about using the luggage as a shield, **silenus** , I probably wouldn’t have thought of that. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111/80 "2004-06-08T22:46:01Z")
Everyone seems to be missing a point here. Everyone seems to be talking about taking the plane back from the hijackers. This is the wrong attitude. The correct attitude is as soon as the first guy stands up and yells Allah Ackbar, my set belt is coming off and I will be in war mode. If I am seated in front of these losers, they will have to get through me to get to the cockpit, if I am seated behind them I will pick them off from the rear. Now before anyone says I don’t know how I would react, I can tell you that I have had guns pointed at me, knives held to my throat, and I once ran a pair of armed robbers out of a gas station with a large crescent wrench, I know how I would react. if the plane gets hijacked I have to assume that I am dead. Any other assumption is just metal masturbation post 9/11. So looking at it this way, since I am dead already (even though I am still breathing), I might as well make my death mean something. If I am going to go in a hijacking when I get the the pearly gates, I want to be able to look St. Peter in the eye, and say “Yeah, but you should see the other guy!” Oh and better then the fire extinguisher would be a wine bottle or beer bottle out of the food cart. hell of a club, and if you break off the neck it is equal to any knife you can name. Stick it in the face and twist. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-fight-if-your-plane-was-hijacked/249111.md?page=5)