New Delhi, Oct. 9 -- The cockpit clash aboard a FlyDubai flight late last month that nearly cost the crew and passengers their lives exposed a worrisome vulnerability in civil aviation.

Flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the aircraft plunged after its co-pilot attacked the captain, who, despite being injured, managed to unlock the heavily secured cockpit door, enabling passengers to storm in and subdue the attacker. The plane landed safely but highlighted a paradox in aviation security.

Reinforced cockpit doors, mandated globally after 9/11, were designed to keep hijackers out-and unable to grab flight controls. Ironically, the high-security door was the obstacle to a rescue in this case as the threat came from within the cockpit.

But the ...