Abstract: The present invention is directed to preventing a hijacker from gaining sufficient flight control of an airliner to use it to do harm. One embodiment of the invention detects when the pilot is not seated and verifies the authorization for the seat to be empty. If the required authorization is not timely provided, a processor executes a hijacking response that includes locking out the flight controls, uninterruptibly and autonomously communicating events on-board the aircraft to ground controllers and others, and uninterruptibly and autonomously navigating the aircraft to a safe landing without control inputs from the cockpit. The present invention, a vehicle security system, is also useful on other vehicles. An embodiment for an automobile is described.