[adamwagg]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Mullet

The bottom line is this: There are literally billions of things that can cause plane crashes. Intentional acts of mischief are such a low percentage of these, it's really quite pointless to be afraid of them.

50% of general aviation fatalities are caused by perfectly functioning pilots running perfectly functioning airplanes into the ground, while fully in control of the airplane. CFIT. Controlled Flight Into Terrain. The vast majority of part 135 or 121 operations that end up in crashes are the result of pilot error. Mechanical failure is another large cause. Weather is a big one.

If you're scared, don't fly. Don't force the rest of us to comply with your idiotic fear-induced exercises.

Totally, the whole thing is over the top. But I think that Jerry isn't saying that it isn't over the top, he's just advancing the argument that I imagine that is being used for exempting the pilots and not the flight attendents.

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by redbaron

flight attendants have access to the cockpit that regular passengers don't have, and could easily crash the plane without a bomb though

Sure: like one of those prohibited weapons.

One way or another: They will need to take care of the pilots.

[redbaron]

or a can of soda in the end of a tube sock, or a roll of quarters. Improvised weapons with allowed materials are so easy it's ridiculous. You could probably sit down and make a list of 50 without really struggling, not to mention the possibilities with your bare hands.

even an equivalent size guy of equivalent strength has a huge advantage over a guy who's sitting down strapped into a chair.

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by redbaron

or a can of soda in the end of a tube sock, or a roll of quarters. Improvised weapons with allowed materials are so easy it's ridiculous. You could probably sit down and make a list of 50 without really struggling, not to mention the possibilities with your bare hands.

even an equivalent size guy of equivalent strength has a huge advantage over a guy who's sitting down strapped into a chair.

If there are two of you (remember, two pilots), and you are lucky, and the plane doesn't crash during the struggle (likely not your intent); not to mention how hard it is to stay choking someone strapped into a seat when you are not strapped in and the plan has just started spinning.

But I never claimed impossibility. I've advocated handing tazers to passengers at the door.

I'm just stating that the ability of a flight crew to crash a plane is not a given. The ability of a pilot is.

[redbaron]

I agree, it's easier for the pilots, but the ideal time for the flight attendant to make it happen is while one of the pilots is in the bathroom- AFAIK most flying of commercial planes is actually done via autopilot once you're at cruise, and in that case there would be little immediate risk to say choke the pilot out. While it's more difficult, I certainly see it as being a definite possibility, given that regardless of how thorough a background check may be, the airline can't guarantee one of their employees won't go psycho.