I like that comment about crash axe vs. two quarters and a dime and a set of car keys.
However, this one I disagree slightly:
"Could this crash have been prevented if a flight attendant had been in the cockpit? “No,” is the short answer. "
The presence of a flight attendant does not make it impossible for a determined suicidal co-pilot to crash the plane. Heck, even the presence of captain doesn't. But while you can physically destroy the plane even if someone is right there, in the case of a mental disorder it is more difficult to do it. The presence of another human has an impact on you.
Agreed - In california, a lot (most?) of the gun ranges will not let you go by yourself, you need to have a buddy. Now, obviously there is zero ability for a bystander to prevent you from doing something harmful with a firearm, should you chose to do so, but the mere presence of someone else, radically reduces the chance that you will do so.
I only have an anecdote, but I had a day to kill in LA a few years back, and really fancied going to a pistol range (never tried - only used a shotgun here in the UK) - Googling and phoning all the ranges I could find within the LA area I couldn't find any that would let me go without somebody else with me (I was out there alone for work).
I have a number of friends who are huge gun fiends, who are always hounding me to go with them so they have the second person. This is just for handguns, long guns, for some reason, don't have that requirement, and allow you to go out on the range solo.
However, this one I disagree slightly: "Could this crash have been prevented if a flight attendant had been in the cockpit? “No,” is the short answer. "
The presence of a flight attendant does not make it impossible for a determined suicidal co-pilot to crash the plane. Heck, even the presence of captain doesn't. But while you can physically destroy the plane even if someone is right there, in the case of a mental disorder it is more difficult to do it. The presence of another human has an impact on you.