I thank the pilot that crashed the plane in PA.

[Solidus]

There must be tons of information out there on how to fly these planes. Perhaps the pilots were killed and the terrorists themselves flew them into the towers. Everything now is all just speculation of course, and we won't know until we find the black boxes, which are buried under (billions?) tons of metal, concrete, and glss.

[Mykey]

Over the next week Im sure many things will be released to the public,one plane actualy had a cellphone call from one of the hi-jacked passengers.

The FBI has put out an all points bulletin looking for a white van with NJ plates with the words Urban Moving Service on the back doors. No doubt airport security cameras picked up this van dropping off passengers(terrorists)beleaved to be involved in the attacks.

[Toadman]

Almost too well-orchestrated. The timing was perfect. All flight crews were overpowered, cockpits breached. Almost a paramilitary-type operation. (?)

[Warthog]

I firmly believe that this is state sponsored.

The man on the cell phone was in the Penn. flight.

It's possible that this could've been an inside job, meaning the pilot was involved. Again, this is just like a Tom Clancy book.

Warthog

[Hawkeye178]

I like Tom Clancy too, and read a few of his books and understand what you mean Wart, anyways well said Shadowhaxor. The irony, times like this bring people together.

Hawkeye178

[U-96]

Not Tom Clancy, but Dale Brown. His novel "Storming Heaven" described the vulnerability of US airspace to terrorist attacks using hijacked aircraft in exactly this manner.

My thoughts are with all my American friends on this board and elsewhere.

All democratic nations will, I am sure, assist in dispensing aid to NYC, and will use all resources to prosecute justice against terrorism with extreme prejudice. You are not alone.

[MiKe85]

Whoever did end up hijacking the plane, must have known what they were doing, because I don't think too many REGULAR pilots would listen to someone telling them to CRASH into a building!

[Philip1952]

I would bet that the pilots in control of the aircraft that did hit the buildings were not the same ones that took off.
Most commerical pilots have gotten thier multi engine training are from the U.S. armed services. Those pilots are trained to try to keep the damage on the ground to as small as possible. (Plus what do you have to lose if someone is standing there telling you to crash into this building or I will kill you).
I think the pilots that took off were over powered and replaced. With someone with a lot less training. With New York harbor less than 15 seconds flight time away. They would have pulled the main power switchs and put it there no matter what the terrorists said.
IMHO

[Ritalin Kid]

Well it is known that the terrorist knew to turn off the plane's transponder so it could not be tracked so I believe they had the knowledge to fly these planes considering that all the planes hijacked were 7x7 models.. so I believe these guys did there homework.. also I STRONGLY believe that the plane that crashed in PA was shot down once it was regarded as heading for the Pentagon before it was thought to be heading for Camp David because I distinctly heard a news reported report live that he had just watched a F-16 fighter fly to the west.. and the fact that there are no big pieces of the plane intact definitly leads me to believe it was shot down

[Aaron_J]

In my humble opinion, that plane (United Airlines flight 93) was shot down.

This isn't some "conspiricy" theory as our government would have had **** good reason to take such drastic measures but I wouldn't expect them to come forward about it either. It would be too easy to claim a fight in the cockpit or some other mishap and avoid public scrutiny. Consider these facts and come to your own conclusion.

1. 8:48am AA flight 11 impacts the first WTC.

2. 9:06am UA flight 175 impacts the second tower.

3. 9:43am AA flight 77 impacts the Pentagon.

4. Sometime during these events, fighters were scrambled.

5. 10:10am UA flight 93 crashes south of Pittsburg.

6. A quote from airsafetyonline.com

"SHANKSVILLE, Pa (Reuters) - A United Airlines jetliner crashed in western Pennsylvania on Tuesday, apparently killing all 45 people on board, moments after a man believed to be a passenger called authorities by cell phone to say the Boeing 757 had been hijacked"
...Now if I am correct, the "man" has turned out to be confirmed as a woman news correspondent. CNN has been showing her picture...

UPDATE: There was also a man that called his mother from an "airphone" He told her that there were 3 terrorists and they claimed to have a bomb. (just heard this on CNN)


These calls would have come almost 30 minutes AFTER the last building crash when our government would have known for sure what the hijackers intentions were, and AFTER they had seen the collapse of the WTC's with they're own eyes. (which is what hit me the hardest btw)

So put yourself in the shoes of the president or whomever was in a position to make this call. You just watched 3 of the most horrific acts of terrorism the world has ever known and now you have confirmed that there is a 4TH! hijacked plane in the air and a quick check indicates it is over a sparsely populated area. The death of the passangers is virtually gauranteed and you have the ability to minimize the chance of death to people on the ground.

Can you honestly say you wouldn't make the same call?

Can you honestly believe this plane crashed on it's own accord? Remember, there is at least 1 witness aboard the plane that confims that the pilots were escorted to the back of the plane alive (the news woman). It means that the terrorists DID take the plane and were in control. This also means, if there was a passenger revolt (which is damned unlikely due to the threat of a bomb), there were people on the plane that could have flown it. It wouldn't have been the intention of the terrorists to crash the plane into the dirtand the 3 previous crashes demonstrated their competency to a chilling degree.

What do you think?

[This message has been edited by Aaron_J (edited 09-11-2001).]

[Ed_S]

Why would they need much knowledge of the plane to do what they did?
Any pilots, correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've seen & read, flying & steering a plane in flight is pretty easy. It's take-off, landing, and emergency response that takes massive trianing.
If the plane's already up, you have no intention of landing, and emergencies are of no concern, why do you need a highly trained pilot??

[Hellmund]

I think Ed's got a point, be like a car with cruise control on, they just had to steer it...

[Shadowhaxor]

Nobody knows why the plane that crashed in PA, did crash. However, I believe the pilot believed it would save more lives, by sacrificing those on the plane, rather that killing more people. He / she must have known they were going to die, and made this decision.

If this is true, I thank you. No words can be said that will make anyone feel better, I know. But, who knows what might have happened, if that plane had made it to its intened target.


Rest in Peace, you country salutes you.

[daveleau]

Well said.
Dave

[GroundZero3]

well said. there playing taps as i type this