Anti-hijacking system operable in emergencies to deactivate on-board flight controls and remotely pilot aircraft utilizing autopilot

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a hijacking intervention module aboard an aircraft having an autopilot system to perform a method for preventing hijacking of the aircraft, the operations comprising:

• sensing a predetermined override input;
• responsive to the sensing of the predetermined override input, performing operations comprising:
• deactivating on-board control of predetermined aircraft flight systems;
• deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
• directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing at a landing site.

A logic circuit of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to prevent hijacking of an aircraft by operating a hijacking intervention module aboard the aircraft, the operations comprising:

• sensing a predetermined override input;
• responsive to the sensing of the predetermined override input, performing operations comprising:
• deactivating on-board control of predetermined aircraft flight systems;
• deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
• directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing.

An anti-hijacking system for use in an aircraft having an autopilot system, comprising:

• a transceiver to communicate with remote stations;
• a manual panic input;
• a manager, coupled to the transceiver and the manual panic input, programmed to perform operations comprising:
• sensing a predetermined override input comprising one or more of the following:
• activation of the manual panic input, receipt of a predetermined override signal from a remote guidance facility via the transceiver;
• responsive to the sensing of the predetermined override input, the manager performing operations comprising:
• deactivating on-board control of predetermined aircraft flight systems;
• deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
• directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing.

An anti-hijacking system for use in an aircraft having an autopilot system, comprising:

• first means for communicating with remote stations;
• second means for receiving manual panic input;
• processing means, coupled to the first and second means, for operations comprising:
• recognizing occurrence of one or more predetermined override signals arising from one or more of the following:
• activation of the second means, receipt of predetermined override signals from one or more remote stations via the first means;
• responsive to the receiving of one or more predetermined override signals, the processor performing operations comprising:
• deactivating on-board control of aircraft flight systems;
• deactivating on-board control of the autopilot system;
• directing the autopilot system to fly the aircraft to a landing at a landing site.