AC

After the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001, airline pilots gained more authority and independence: They sit behind locked cockpit doors, can carry guns and are starting to bypass regular airport security lines. The authority, which pilots had sought, was designed to protect control of a plane and its passengers by leaving it in the hands of the captain and co-pilot. The security steps have worked well so far. However, a bizarre incident Tuesday, when JetBlue Airways captain Clayton Osbon had to be subdued by passengers after raving about 9/11 and terrorists, prompts questions about vesting so much power in pilots — although there are checks and balances. The checks include medical screenings and having fellow crewmembers keep an eye on each other's physical and mental fitness, and adherence to rules and protocol. Many flight security experts say they are sufficient to guard against the rarest of incidents like the one Tuesday, and that the incident shouldn't be used to undermine...