Passengers and flight crews have been doing a great job of cooperating to subdue subversives and nut- cases while in flight. Anyone wanting a good ass-whipping need only mention "bomb" while flying at 30,000 feet. They will be pounced on and hogtied almost immediately.

So too with the mental case who attempted to break into the cockpit of a United Airlines flight. As the Boeing 777 jet passed over Brazil on a flight to Argentina, some idiot tried a little kung-fu on the "secure" cockpit door. The door held properly, but he knocked off a bottom panel and tried to crawl in.

That kicking made a lot of noise in the cockpit, of course, which alerted the pilots. The co-pilot grabbed the small fire ax and waited. When the perpetrator’s head entered the cockpit, co-pilot bopped him with the ax handle -- "bluntly" in the head.

Perhaps we should take a little time to describe that little "fire ax." It is designed to get through the aircraft fuselage fast, in case of an emergency. The wide blade is razor sharp. The pick end comes to a very sharp point. Which means, any adult male wielding such a weapon could easily lob off body parts with nearly every swing that contacted with a perpetrator.

The above mentioned co-pilot, therefore, should be commended because he did the proper thing by bopping the perpetrator with a blunt section of the ax, rather then burying it in his head.

As soon as the perpetrator’s head was treated to stop the bleeding, he was handcuffed and segregated from the rest of the passengers.

Thereafter, we see the effect of strong adult supervision on the part of the Captain. Because, the aircraft continued on to its destination and flight attendants and passengers did everything flight attendants and passengers do on long flights. Drinks and food were served and it was otherwise a normal flight.

Contrast that with a Delta flight out of LA, going to Salt Lake City, last weekend. A frequent flyer was watching himself in a company blurb the airlines ran on the big screen and was talking with friends.

He had to go to the restroom, so got up and went. Nothing was said about that. On the way back to his seat, a flight attendant demanded he take his seat -- which is where he was going, anyway. This frequent flyer executive looked at the flight attendant (she said menacingly) like she might be some kind of nut. But, he did return to his seat without comment.

Apparently, "someone" at FAA passed a new rule that passengers may not leave their seats in the last 30 minutes of a flight into Salt Lake City. The executive in question may not have known that -- even though the pilot announced it.

Anyway, now comes three young "sky marshals." One wearing shabby clothing and a baseball cap backwards on the aircraft. These observant bright lights said the frequent flyer -- who had just been celebrated on the large cabin screen -- looked suspicious because he glanced to the back of the aircraft a couple times. One of the "air marshals" said the passenger gave what appeared to be a "thumbs up" to another passenger as he returned to his seat. That was enough of an excuse for the marshals to "take control" of the cabin.

The very young (and shabbily dressed) marshals then hassled the passenger, as well as every other passenger. Because of this "serious incident," the young marshals ordered all passengers to put their hands on their heads for the duration of the flight.

No drinks. No snacks. No reading. "Simon says" everyone must put hands on their heads. And, since these Simple Simons were the only ones aboard with guns, passengers were intimidated into compliance.

Ultimately, the passenger was arrested for his major crime. Not for long, though. Cooler heads prevailed and the man soon went on his way. We might also note that if he has a good lawyer he may soon be owning a lot of Delta stock. The sky marshals were clearly idiots and should be fired.

Because, generally speaking, the Captain is said to be in charge of the ship. Not the sky marshals. If a commercial airline pilot cannot control the actions of these so called "sky marshals," then the pilot is no longer "Captain," but just the driver. That means the guy dressed like a young punk in the back of the aircraft is actually the captain of the ship.