mav, that still leaves a bit of a problem for a planeload of people ...../.... a far, far better thing would be an auto-pilot controlled landing. and believe me, this technology will be available very soon.

Indeed®, on all points tsuwm - I believe this is practicable now, just not deemed advisable for the public's feeling of security ("look, mom - no hands!") My point about fuel dump is that the mere existence of that would render such hijacks improbable, since the deterrent effect of knowing their lunacy would fail should cut out 99% of the chances.