I just saw the first interviews with US pilots tonight.
Guys, they're not stupid. Up till now it has been negotiate, do as they say, land somewhere, let them get arrested.
Now our pilots are talking like commandos. They all know what happened, and are probably more informed about airline security than you or I. The copilot of one flight kept his heavy, emergency flashlight (big long suckers) as a club just in case. There is NO WAY any US commercial pilot will cooperate with terrorist from here on out. They're as vocal about these security changes as much, if not more so, than the rest of us. One pilot wanted these changes within the week. Yes, THIS week. Skymarshals and security doors.
I wouldn't put it past the PASSENGERS to grab and beat to death any hijacker in the imdiate future on any airline anywhere. Bomb threat or not.
One other point. I know it is racist, but there is no point in ignoring it. Any Arab flying on a major airline right now will be stared at and carefully studied by his fellow passengers. I feel bad for the innocent Arab people this will happen to, but it will. I bet the airline security forces will examine him like a bug too. Racial profiline is supposed to be bad, but after this week it might become normal.