Well, the short answer is that I would like to have a PSK with me on the airliner for the same reason I'd like to have it everywhere I go... I want to have it when I need it, and I don't know when that will be.

Planes do go down, and people occasionally survive the initial crash. Fortune almost always seems to dictate that the crashes occur in remote areas, or in the ocean. If there's a massive structural failure and I plummet to my death, or a deadly explosion then there's nothing I can do about that... Just like there's nothing I can do if a terrorist comes up behind me and puts a gun to my head. But this forum isn't about that, its about being prepared when the fates give you a fighting chance. Having the airlines take away my right to have that fighting chance is something to which I take great offense.

As far as confronting a highjacker goes, I don't think anyone is suggesting we need a PSK for that. Personally, I'd love to have my fighting chance in this area too... but the airlines and the "Dept. of Homeland Security" have already decided for me in that regard. To say the least, I'm not very happy with their decision on the matter!