US has flight numbers of specific hijack targets

NewsMax ^ | 12.23.03 | NBC

[CaptSkip]

U.S. Has Flight Numbers of Specific Hijack Targets

Intelligence gathered by Homeland Security and Defense Department officials that caused terror alert levels to be elevated on Sunday included specific airline flight numbers targeted for hijacking by al Qaeda as well as the names of airports involved in the plot.

"U.S. intelligence agencies had gathered detailed information about the plan, in which they said al Qaeda operatives would hijack foreign airliners and fly them into targets in the United States," reported NBC News late Tuesday. "In some instances, the intelligence is so detailed as to include specific flight numbers," the network said.

"Federal air marshals, who usually fly only on domestic flights, are now boarding international airlines into those airports," NBC revealed.

U.S. officials said the highly detailed intelligence includes the name of at least one East Coast airport : New Jersey's Newark International, where incoming flights are being closely watched.

In addition to large urban centers like New York and Los Angeles, al-Qaeda is also believed to be targeting Las Vegas, according to the network's sources. Las Vegas is the nation's No. 2 vacation destination and is scheduled to host a number of large conventions and trade shows beginning next month.

Surface-to-air missiles have been deployed by the Pentagon to many of the cities most likely to be targeted.

[CaptSkip]

Good!

[Nachum]

Catch them in midair and drop them out from about 20,000 feet.

[COEXERJ145]

Those SAM's won't do jack against a large commercial airliner on a suicide dive.

While totally a guess, I would be watching any airline that comes from a country that either has a high (radical) Muslim population and/or has supported the U.S. in Iraq and in the War on Terror.

[nhoward14]

DAMN THE JOHN F***ING KERRY MEDIA!!!!

Can't we keep this stuff secret so we can actually catch the terrorists?????????

I know this is rhetorical with the media, but this makes me mad to no end. I can see Rita Cosby running breathlessly to the nearest mike to tell us the exact flight numbers and who is on each plane.

[chance33_98]

al-Qaeda is also believed to be targeting Las Vegas,

Send out the mob :)

[ladyinred]

Morons aren't they?

[knak]

this stuff is getting pretty serious tonight. Lots of info coming out.

[The Westerner]

Agree with you completely. People in the know should keep their mouths shut.

[nhoward14]

I think that is the most civilized term that can be used to describe them. Traitors may be another one.

[Marie Antoinette]

Those SAM's won't do jack against a large commercial airliner on a suicide dive.

Disagree. If you take off a wing, the aircraft is likely to miss what it's being aimed at. Unless, of course, it's too close to the ground.

[CaptSkip]

If the pilot is AQ, and on final at 300 feet, and veers into a target (terminal), who you gonna call?

[glannon]

so the with us and the against us.

[Howlin]

Alert!

[nhoward14]

The only people you can call... fire dept and paramedics.

[Jim Noble]

I would be watching any airline that comes from a country that either has a high (radical) Muslim population and/or has supported the U.S. in Iraq and in the War on Terror.

You're a pacifist.

I would splash any non-US flag aircraft that approaches within 200 miles of a US ADIZ.

[Howlin]

My head is starting to hurt.

[InterceptPoint]

Can't we keep this stuff secret so we can actually catch the terrorists?????????

Would you proceed with your plan to hijack Flight 317 if you believed that the FBI would be waiting for you. Methinks not. I think discouraging the al Queda by letting them know that they have been intercepted/infiltrated is the goal. The leak was on purpose.

[onyx]

Not believable. Withold info until too late? NOT this administration.

[breakem]

U.S. officials said............ enough morons to go around!

[NeoCaveman]

just damn.

(shaking my head)