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From Martin Gellender

Rather than use tasers to incapacitate terrorists on aircraft (17 January, p 19), I suggest a simple, well-proven and relatively low-tech solution. In the confined space of an aircraft, tear gas would be brilliantly effective in incapacitating all passengers until the plane is able to land safely.

I can testify from personal experience that tear gas disables fit, healthy adults in a very short time. People become nearly blind, salivate uncontrollably and feel as if they are dying. Recovery is total and rapid in fresh air.

The ventilation system of an aircraft could quickly distribute tear gas through the passenger cabin once activated by the pilots or cabin crew. The pilot could, if necessary, also trigger the release of oxygen masks to provide some relief for passengers in their seats.

Releasing tear gas into the cabin would give all the passengers a truly miserable flight experience, and put those with respiratory or cardiac illness at significant risk. But it would likely be preferable to an on-board shoot-out between terrorists and sky marshals.

Brisbane, Australia