Fighting Back At 40,000 Feet

Part 1 – Responding To Airborne Terrorists

By Christopher Caile

For weeks after 9/11 the events haunted me. I played them over and over in my mind and thought about what I would have done, and how I would fight back if I was ever faced with armed terrorists 40,000 feet in the air. Many of my friends have said the same thing.

Since then I have seen much media rhetoric about the new terror reality, and how airplanes can become a political instrument of destruction. But missing, I think, has been concrete guidance on when and how to fight back, strategies of defense and how to arm yourself with makeshift weapons and shields. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject based on my 40 plus years of martial arts and self-defense experience.

Hopefully this will get you thinking about the unthinkable, no matter how unlikely the event. Don't get "warm and cozy" thinking that all the new security measures have made it safe again — enhanced screening, onboard air marshals, armored cockpit doors and an armed crew. That nagging cut of fear which sometimes bleeds into your conscious is right: security is still not perfect. Another incident is possible and because air marshals are present on only about 5 percent of flights, don't count on much help.

A friend of mine was recently shocked to find that she had forgotten to remove a pocket knife from her purse for her flight to New York City. It had gone undetected. Numerous other stories abound. The truth is that weapons, even explosive or incendiary devices, still can get aboard a plane.

So how can passengers help and how can we be prepared? Most are already contributing to security. They are more aware of other passengers and are on the outlook for weapons or anything suspicious. This might just help avert the next hijacker or terrorist incident.

Also, the willingness of passengers to fight back will certainly make terrorists think twice before acting again. This willingness to take action was demonstrated on 9/11 when passengers on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania fought back, though they died in their efforts. There have been more recent incidents as well, when passengers have jumped in to help restrain someone, the most notable case being that of the alleged shoe bomber.

You might be willing physically to assist the crew in cases of air rage, belligerency, or fisticuffs. But, be careful. You can still help, but I wouldn't want to seriously injury some half drunk, emotional "Uncle Max" from Buffalo who is just venting to other passengers.

I would, however, take immediate action if I was close enough to stop someone with a weapon, or any type of explosive device. I would also try to intervene if someone was trying to take a hostage, or attacking an air marshal attempting to respond to an incident.

Most critical, it seems to me, is the protection of the cockpit, the pilots and the airline controls. Taking timely action can keep belligerents confined to the passenger cabin and hopefully restrained. In the process hijackers or terrorists are denied control of the airplane. If the cockpit security is breached, however, the likelihood of a successful counter-attack that will also prevent a crash is greatly reduced – not impossible, but very difficult. The worst case scenario is that of Flight 93, but at least those who fought back denied the terrorists success of their ultimate goal.

One of the most effective weapons may actually be the pilot himself. One US Air pilot told me, "there isn't any official policy on this, but if there is a terrorist on board my plane, they better watch out. If they are not strapped in they will find themselves bounced around like a chicken piece in a bag of "Shake & 'bake."

This could seriously disrupt any concerted terrorist action. Being unbalanced and/or upended also gives passengers an opportunity to pile on top of assailants and restrain them. In Part 2 of this series we will discuss measures to deal with gyrations of movement, if standing.

The most horrific decision to consider is how you might respond if there were hostages. The typical ploy is to threaten the hostages if passengers don't follow orders, or if the pilots don't open the cockpit door.

In this type of situation you can only hope for an opening that allows successful action — a distraction, like a sudden shift by the plane, a diversion or even some move on the part of a hostage. But in the end, if the cockpit is in danger, or people's lives are at risk of being lost, I think it is incumbent on passengers to intercede even if a hostage's life is at risk.

In these situations terrorists always try to turn the tables on you. They tell you that it's your fault if someone get killed or injured because you interceded, or didn't follow their instructions. Don't bite. If they kill someone, they are the killers, not you. Remember too, that now the stakes have been raised. The old days when a hijacker wanted just to be taken someplace is gone. Now it must be assumed, unless proved otherwise, that terrorist's goal is probably to kill everyone.

Hopefully what I have talked about will get you to think about what you might do in various situations and to create your own plan of action. Remember, the willingness to fight back, and to participate with others in decisive group action, is in itself a tremendous deterrent. It can also be the most effective means to counter any terrorist takeover of an airline.

In Part 2, of this series I will discuss various strategies of fighting back against terrorists or hijackers. In Part 3, we will talk about all the possible things available to you as passengers that can be used as makeshift weapons, shields and artillery. This greatly increases your fighting chances if terrorists or hijackers have weapons.

Disclaimer:

This article is for educational purposes only and does not represent advice, suggested action or activities that airline passengers should or could take. It represents the views of the author only, who is trained in self-defense and the use of weapons. The intent of this article is only to provoke thought. In the event of an actual airline incident the direction of airline flight crew, pilots and/or air marshals should be followed.

About the Author Christopher Caile

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Christopher Caile is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of FightingArts.com. He has been a student of the martial arts for over 65 years.

He first started in judo while in college. Then he added karate as a student of Phil Koeppel in 1959 studying Kempo and Wado-Ryu karate. He later added Shotokan Karate where he was promoted to brown belt and taught beginner classes. In 1960 while living in Finland, Caile introduced karate to that country and placed fourth in that nation's first national judo tournament.

Wanting to further his karate studies, Caile then hitch hiked from Finland to Japan traveling through Scandinavia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and South and Southeast Asia — living on 25 cents a day and often sleeping outside.

Arriving in Japan (1962), Caile was introduced to Mas Oyama and his fledgling full contact Kyokushinkai Karate by Donn Draeger, the famous martial artist and historian. Donn also housed him with several other senior international judo practitioners. Donn became Caile's martial arts mentor, coaching him in judo and introducing him to Shinto Muso-ryu under Takaji Shimizu.

Caile studied at Oyama's honbu dojo and also at Kenji Kurosaki's second Tokyo Kyokushinkai dojo. In his first day in class Oyama asked Caile to teach English to his chief instructor, Tadashi Nakamura. They have been friends ever since. Caile also participated in Oyama's masterwork book, "This Is Karate."

Caile left Japan with his black belt and designation as Branch Chief, the first in the US to have had extensive training in Japan directly under Oyama Sensei. As such, Oyama Sensei asked him to be his representative on visits to his US dojos to report on their status.

A little over a year later, Nakamura, Kusosaki and Akio Fujihira won an epic David vs. Goliath challenge match against Thailand's professional Muay Thai Boxers in Bangkok, Thailand, thrusting Kyolushinkai and Nakamura into national prominence.

Back in the US Caile taught Kyokushinkai karate in Peoria, Il while in college and later in Washington, DC. while in graduate school. Durimg this time Shihan Nakamura had moved to New York City to head Kyokushinkai's North American Operation.

In 1976 when Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura formed the World Seido Karate organization, Caile followed. Living then in Buffalo, NY, Caile taught Seido karate and self-defense at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) for over 15 years where he also frequently lectured on martial arts and Zen in courses on Japanese culture.

Caile moved to New York City in 1999 to marry Jackie Veit. He is now an 8th degree black belt, Hanshi, training in Seido Karate's Westchester, NY Johshin Honzan (Spiritual Center) dojo. In Seido Caile is known for his teaching of and seminars on kata applications. He also produced a 14 segment video series on Pinan kata Bunkai currently available to Seido members.

Caile is also a long-time student and Shihan in Aikido. He studied in Buffalo, under Mike Hawley Shihan, and then under Wadokai Aikido's founder, the late Roy Suenaka (uchi deshi under Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido and was Shihan under Tohei Sensei). In karate, Suenaka (8thdan) was also an in-house student of the Okinawan karate master Hohan Soken.

Having moved to New York City, Caile in 2000 founded this martial arts educational website, FightingArts.com. Twenty-five years later, in 2025, it underwent a major update and revision.

For FightingArts.com and other publications Caile wrote hundreds of articles on karate, martial arts, Japanese art, Chinese Medicine and edited a book on Zen. He also developed relationships with a cross section of leading martial arts teachers. Over the last four decades he has conducted extensive private research into karate and martial arts including private translations of the once secret Okinawan hand copied and passed on Kung Fu book, the Bubishi, as well as an early karate book by the karate master Kenwa Mabuni. He periodically returns to Japan and Okinawa to continue his studies and participate Seido karate events. In Tokyo he practiced (with Roy Suenaka Sensei) in a variety of aikido organizations with their founders – including private interviews and practices at the Aiki-kai Aikido Honbu dojo with the son and grandson of aikido's founder, Doshu (headmaster) Kisshomaru (an old uchi-deshi friend) and his son, Moriteru Ueshiba and in Iwama with Morihiro Saito. On Okinawa he studied Goju Ryu karate under Eiichi Miyazato, 10th dan founder of Naha's Jundokan, and also with Yoshitaka Taira (who later formed his own organization, who specialized in kata Bunkai. While there Caile also trained with Hohan Soken's senior student, Master Fusei Kise, 10 dan as well as with the grandson of the legendary karate master Anko Itosu.

Caile's other martial arts experience includes: Diato-ryu Aikijujitsu and Kenjitsu, kobudo, boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Kali (empty hand, knife and bolo), study of old Okinawan Shoran-ryu & Tomari body mechanics, study of old Okinawan kata under Richard Kim, study of close quarter defense and combat, including knife and gun defenses, Kyusho Jitsu and several Chinese fighting arts including 8 Star Praying Mantis, Pak Mei (White Eyebrow), and a private family system of Kung Fu.

Caile is also a student of Zen as well as a long-term student of one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chi Kung (Qigong). As one of two senior disciples of Chi Kung master Dr. Shen (M.D., Ph.D.) Caile was certified to teach and practice. This led to Caile's founding of the The Chi Kung Healing Institute on Grand Island, NY. In Western NY, he also frequently held Chi Kung seminars, including at SUNY Buffalo and at the famous Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. His articles on Chi Kung also appeared in the Holistic Health Journal and in several books on alternative medicine.

Caile holds a BA in International Studies from Bradley University and MA in International Relations with a specialty in South and Southeast Asia from American University in Washington, D.C. While in Buffalo, NY he also studied digital and analog electronics.

In his professional life Caile also worked in public relations and as a newspaper reporter and photographer. Earlier he worked in the field of telecommunications including Managing a Buffalo, NY sales and service branch for ITT. He then founded his own private telephone company. This was followed by creation of an electrical engineering company that designed and patented his concept for a new type of low-cost small business telephone system (which was eventually sold to Bell South). The company also did contract work for Kodak and the US space program. Simultaneously Caile designed and manufactured a unique break-apart portable pontoon boat.

Most recently Caile co-founded an internet software company. Its products include software suites with AI capability for control and management of streaming media, such as video and music, an all-in-one book publishing software product for hardcover, eBook and audio book creation and security software for buildings and government use.

For more details about Christopher Caile's martial arts, work experience and life profile, see the About section in the footer of this site.