[paranoidrobot]

Your assumption is that it's a "kill everyone" button.

Yes, used incorrectly or maliciously, in the right circumstances, it can do so.

By the same reasoning, a huge percentage of the controls and switches in the cockpit can also have the same result.

Just disconnect the fuel to the engines, or push the control stick forward.

[maegul]

I feel like the need for qualified pilots is essentially that it’d be easier to identify what isn’t effectively a “kill everyone” button in the cockpit if used in the wrong way.

It’s a fricken giant metal tube flying through the air!

[martopix]

Slightly related: a family friend who was a pilot once told us that the security at an UK airport once very thoroughly inspected him before his flight. Puzzled, he asked: what are you looking for? Because I have a literal axe in the cockpit - and I can also crash the plane. How could I possibly be carrying more dangerous stuff? The security people didn't like it.

[93po]

It's also worth keeping the secure area of the airport secure. The pilot can be negligent and have weapons stolen from him, or left behind by accident. He can also accidentally bring weapons into the airport he didn't intend to.

[maegul]

Terrorist’s long game I guess … just become the damn pilot.