Don't know that pilots know that much about guns on a plane. For one thing, these situations usually aren't that clear-cut until the bad guy has control. They are usually sort of "iffy", and no one is going to shoot someone until it's too late.

And, I know this is not popular, but most folks aren't going to shoot someone. First, the situation develops too rapidly, and is not clear at first. Second, it's not easy to shoot someone.

Probably don't want the sky marshalls flying the plane, either.

30 seconds is a very long time.

The decision as to whether or not to have guns on planes is controversial. The easy way out would have been to announce they would.

And if there is a hijacking where a gun in the cockpit would have been useful they would look pretty bad.

So,

1 - There are some great reasons for not having guns, or
2 - There are guns and they aren't telling you and me.

Makes sense to me, anyway.

What is long, involved, complicated and clever about telling a cabin attendant you just saw big puff of white smoke come out of the engine?

(Crowded MATS transport. Miserable excuse for an overworked, aged plane. People like cattle in a truck, mesh seats, hot, noisy, bumpy. I smell fuel. Smell more. Keep smelling it. Tell one of the crew. Pilot comes back, follows some lines, looks at the wall, finds lighter fuel leaking from a can in a bag in the overhead. Mine. Not good.)

Next time you're flying someplace, try it. I guarantee there will be one of the flight crew sitting in your lap in those 30 seconds.

Arf