Uninterruptible autopilot
{{Short description|Autopilot control system}}
An uninterruptible autopilot is a proposed system designed to take control of a commercial aircraft away from the pilot or flight crew in the event of a hijacking.
If implemented, the system would allow the craft to automatically guide itself to a landing at a designated airstrip.{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/diagrams-boeing-patents-anti-terrorism-auto-land-system-for-hijacked-210869/|title=Diagrams: Boeing patents anti-terrorism auto-land system for hijacked airliners|first=John|last=Croft|date=December 1, 2006|website=FlightGlobal|access-date=December 3, 2023}} The "uninterruptible" autopilot would be activated either by pilots, by onboard sensors, or remotely via radio or satellite links by government agencies, if terrorists attempt to gain control of a flight deck. The pilots or hijackers would then be unable to regain control of the aircraft, which would automatically land safely.
A patent for the invention was awarded to Boeing in 2006.{{cite press release |url=http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/boeing-wins-patent-uninterruptible-autopilot-system |title=Boeing wins patent on uninterruptible autopilot system |date=4 December 2006 |accessdate=15 June 2014 }}
Conspiracy theorists have claimed that the technology has been secretly fitted to some commercial airliners. Some, including historian Norman Davies, have blamed it for the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the cause of which is unknown {{as of|2024|March|lc=1}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12191656|title='This is where MH370 crashed': Fisherman claims he saw Malaysian Airlines plane go down|date=January 16, 2019|via=www.nzherald.co.nz}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2017/12/new-theories-claim-mh370-was-remotely-hijacked-buried-in-antarctica.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216072821/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2017/12/new-theories-claim-mh370-was-remotely-hijacked-buried-in-antarctica.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 16, 2017|title=New theories claim MH370 was 'remotely hijacked', buried in Antarctica|newspaper=Newshub |via=www.newshub.co.nz}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=18IsDAAAQBAJ&q=Norman+Davies+Honeywell+MH370&pg=PP582|title=Beneath Another Sky: A Global Journey into History|first=Norman|last=Davies|year=2017|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-1846148323|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Features/2015/03/08/MH370-Four-conspiracy-theories-that-almost-got-away-with-it/|title=MH370: Four conspiracy theories that almost got away with it |work=thestar.com.my – The Star Online}}{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/cia-withholding-information-on-flight-mh370-says-former-malaysian-pm-mahathir-mohamad-20140519-zrh0a.html|title=CIA withholding information on flight MH370, says former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 May 2014 }}{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/104480/malaysia-airliens-flight-370-mahathir-mohamad/|title=Malaysia Airlines Flight 370: Former Leader Says CIA in MH370 Cover Up|author=Barbara Tasch|magazine=Time}} According to Bob Mann, an airline industry consultant, evidence of an uninterruptible autopilot system being installed in a commercial aircraft has not been publicized and is not proven to exist.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/this-is-the-biggest-factor-keeping-planes-from-flying-fully-automated-2015-3|title=This is the biggest factor keeping planes from fully flying themselves|author=Jonathan Marino|work=Business Insider Australia}} Safety concerns, including the possibility that such a system could be hacked, have prevented its roll-out.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32084956|title=Germanwings: Crash leaves many unanswered questions|work=BBC News|date=27 March 2015 }}