[Old Sarge]

FOLKS, I NEED AN ANSWER!

This si going to sound absolutely insane, but I've come to know the quantity and quality of the researchers who inhabit this thread.

I am going to ask y'all to put aside your petty gripes for a few minutes, and read this post.

At or about 2145 EST this evening, my wife, The Missus, was participating in an AOL chat room. One of the chatters explained he was on board an aircraft in flight.

As the chat thread progressed, this flyer began posting small blurbs, like, "The plane's getting rougher", and "It's jinking a lot." Then one final post, "The cockpit doors have slammed shut." Then nothing.

The rest of the chatters, Missus included, began poinging this person, but there was no response. Missus says the last post was about 2200 EST.

The poster claims to have been "over blue water" at the time.

Now Folks, a storm starts with a slight breeze. If Missus was just eye-witness to something going on with an in-flight plane, then I need to know a few things:

- Has anyone seen any wire or cable reports, or breaking news, of an down aircraft, within the last 90 minutes? Time of incident I'd estimate about 2200 EST;

- I need to be educated here: what restrictions/limits are there for Internet use on board a commercial flight? I know that domestic carriers forbid cel phone use, except for certain times like final approach, or something, but is there any way for someone to use wireless Web on a flight?

- It sounds to me like this was a domestic flight, or possibly, given the "blue water" reference, an international flight that was in the corridor for landing.

I'm at home, finally, away from my desk at the Ops Center, and my access to stuff is severely curtailed. I request the help of alert FReepers to confirm/deny/debunk all what I've just heard.

Thanks In Advance,

SARGE

[Calpernia]

Where are we looking? Do we know where this plane was?

[Calpernia]

Link for reference: http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp

[Oorang]

I believe you can be online anywhere with some sort of Microsoft satellite connection.

[Quix]

Have seen nothing yet. I leave much to those better able to ferret stuff out. I merely have Fox on in the background.

Some planes have web access at each first class seat. Not sure about business and coach.

There should be an FBI or HOMELAND SECURITY number or email to access and it's probably in the longer thread.

But an airliner has more or less constant monitoring at least by some sort of radar or transponder as I understand it. Officials should know virtually instantly if one got blown out of the sky.

Nevertheless, the wife's experience should be reported to Homeland Security, IMHO.

[Try2Discern]

I'm just catching up on this thread, and I'm sure somebody has already noticed this, but aren't cockpit doors shut and secured BEFORE takeoff? Sounds like someone pulling a fast one. Also, whenever there is turbulence, the pilot makes an announcement to stow personal items. Maybe that would explain loss of communication.

[JustPiper]

Oh Sarge if you of all people can't get to your office. No news yet on 'any' downed planes...but with your wife and other's if it happens, look for her to be debriefed. Let me know please, when you do return to your desk! Your post was 3 1/2 hours ago!

[Rutles4Ever]

Incredible.

As the chat thread progressed, this flyer began posting small blurbs, like, "The plane's getting rougher", and "It's jinking a lot." Then one final post, "The cockpit doors have slammed shut." Then nothing.

Wow. Turbulence. Let's call the FBI.

This is why "EOM" continues to bait and bluster. How on earth do these messages imply some sort of foul play or mechanical catastrophe? I'm absolutely baffled.

By the way, pilots need to use the lavatory, too. The cockpit doors may be locked, but they emerge to relieve themselves and then go back in and slam the door shut.

Please, everyone. Get a grip. Let's focus on concrete issues like the incompetent U.S. Customs department that allowed 8 fake visas to slip through before Sept. 11.

What about David Kay's report? Where did all those chemicals and biological agents get siphoned off to? Is Syria going to play WMD extortion with Israel? At what point will President Bush lay it out through back channels that Iran's is going to pay the piper in the shadows of a Special Forces-backed, popular uprising?

All roads lead to Tehran. Break their backs quickly.