Posted on 10/13/2001 10:55:41 AM PDT by Ranger
TORONTO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Police are investigating circumstances surrounding a Sept. 11 flight from Toronto to New York after box-cutter knives were found aboard the airliner, which never left the ground that day, an airline spokeswoman said on Saturday.
Box-cutters and knives were the weapons used by hijackers who took control of four U.S. airliners on Sept. 11 and smashed them into landmarks in New York and Washington and a Pennsylvania field, killing nearly 5,400 people.
Air Canada (Toronto:AC.TO - news) spokeswoman Laura Cooke said the knives were found on Sept. 14 by a passenger on an Air Canada flight heading for Calgary.
The plane had initially been scheduled to fly to New York on Sept. 11, leaving Toronto's Pearson International Airport at 9 a.m. It never took off because the United States closed its airspace to civilian traffic after the attacks in New York and Washington.
``The matter is being looked at by the authorities,'' Cooke said. She declined to give details about the passengers.
The Globe and Mail national newspaper quoted a passenger on the original Sept. 11 flight as saying that he had been questioned by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
``I asked them why they were asking questions, and they told me box-cutters were found under some of the seats,'' the paper quoted the passenger as saying.
``It is pretty scary to know that I was on a flight to New York on Sept. 11 and box-cutters were under some seats.''
The airliners used in the hijack attacks took off from Boston, New York and Washington.
So, the plane never took off. But did the passengers ever board??
I'm convinced there are many terrorists here who already have their orders.
If they were going to plant something, why would they plant something that could be carried on legally? Why not something more useful like an AK47 with a half-dozen spare magazines or an 18" short sword?
Someone might ask questions about knives, or demand that they be placed in the "main" luggage. I have experienced that myself, in Europe. Although I have always been allowed to have my swiss army knife, but I suspect that's a bygone.
And a box cutter found accidentally, by some random stranger, wouldn't raise near the interest that an AK would.
An AK might be a little large to escape notice; I just mentioned that because it's the stereotypical type of firearm for that part of the world.
On the other hand, it would be very easy to hide a pistol, compact/foldable rifle/shotgun, or 18" short sword inside an innocent-looking box. The only reason a box-cutter would be easier to hide would be its size; a box long enough to hold an AK would probably get noticed. But the other weapons I mentioned could probably have escaped notice if smuggled on by ground crews, and a few men with 18" short swords who were well-trained in their use would be able to hold at bay a plane load of even unwilling passengers.
I have little doubt that Sears Tower was a target. Canada (and Mexico for that matter) has little to fear at the moment. The terrorists have no intention of doing anything in those countries that would cause them to tighten their borders, as this would impede their ability to carry out attacks on us.
I flagged the rest of you because I thought you might be interested in reply #28 and #31 an this thread From #31: The government also alleged that Argenbright (the contracted security company) had violated FAA regulations at 13 airports, including Dulles International outside Washington, Logan in Boston, New York's LaGuardia, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
I talked about this before. I do not beleive this is the only plane where box cutters were found.
I think that there were operatives working for airports or airlines that place them there.
A hijacker did not even have to smuggle them on board -- they were there waiting for him.
Either way, you're right in remembering that boxcutters were found elsewhere, on other 'grounded' flights. I destinctly recall that myself.
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