Passenger Grabbed the Controls

[MFT1Air]

Not significant an issue with Part 121 but the Part 91 and 135 guys? Hmmm. Any major concerns?

No Injuries After Alaskan Caravan Passenger Grabbed the Controls - FLYING Magazine

A July 7th report from the Alaska State Troopers in Aniak confirmed there were no injuries after an 18-year-old man—Jaden Lake-Kameroff—attempted to wrestle the controls of a Cessna Caravan away from the pilot and pushed the aircraft’s nose down. The incident occurred at approximately 1444 local...

www.flyingmag.com

 

[Boots2Wings]

Not particularly. Just because something CAN happen, does not mean it is remotely likely to. For the mentally unstable, there are far more simple and effective means to get that forever sleep, and for those that would plan something like this out, well short of going full blown paranoia mode, not much would stop it. Heck, even if FFDO was extended to these ops, good luck drawing, accurately hitting, and stopping a determined , “unarmed” threat (which takes many more shots on average than one thinks), while strapped into your seat with limited mobility….odds are even worse if you're SP.

Admittadely that was a largely anecdotal answer, but think for instance about reaction times for a pilot to a normal mechanical, no b/s emergency….now imagine that emergency is your passenger, who is actively fighting you (or at least your airplane). FedEx took the coordinated efforts of three highly experienced pilots to save that ship, and that would have been virtually impossible if the 2-1 advantage the pilots needed while subduing the assailant required that the plane be left without someone at the controls.

Thankfully, I’m primarily a freight guy, but if a person jumps out of box on me, chances are his wishes will be realized…unless he is slow and my crash axe hasn't mysteriously jumped out of its bracket again.

 

[tlove482]

Not significant an issue with Part 121 but the Part 91 and 135 guys? Hmmm. Any major concerns?

No Injuries After Alaskan Caravan Passenger Grabbed the Controls - FLYING Magazine

A July 7th report from the Alaska State Troopers in Aniak confirmed there were no injuries after an 18-year-old man—Jaden Lake-Kameroff—attempted to wrestle the controls of a Cessna Caravan away from the pilot and pushed the aircraft’s nose down. The incident occurred at approximately 1444 local...

www.flyingmag.com

I thought about this during my time at Cape Air. We usually put a kid or Hotel Bravos in the front seat. I always hoped the other 7 pax in the back would stop any crazies before they reached the front.

 

[MFT1Air]

Not particularly. Just because something CAN happen, does not mean it is remotely likely to. For the mentally unstable, there are far more simple and effective means to get that forever sleep, and for those that would plan something like this out, well short of going full blown paranoia mode, not much would stop it. Heck, even if FFDO was extended to these ops, good luck drawing, accurately hitting, and stopping a determined , “unarmed” threat (which takes many more shots on average than one thinks), while strapped into your seat with limited mobility….odds are even worse if you're SP.

Admittadely that was a largely anecdotal answer, but think for instance about reaction times for a pilot to a normal mechanical, no b/s emergency….now imagine that emergency is your passenger, who is actively fighting you (or at least your airplane). FedEx took the coordinated efforts of three highly experienced pilots to save that ship, and that would have been virtually impossible if the 2-1 advantage the pilots needed while subduing the assailant required that the plane be left without someone at the controls.

Thankfully, I’m primarily a freight guy, but if a person jumps out of box on me, chances are his wishes will be realized…unless he is slow and my crash axe hasn't mysteriously jumped out of its bracket again.

Yep, I remember FEDEX Flight 705 from over 25 years ago. Lucky for some. Perhaps not for others.