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WHAT HAPPENED ON FLIGHT 17? (UPDATED: NO MISSILE, JUST BIRDS)
Michelle Malkin ^ | 9/18/05 | Michelle Malkin

Posted on 09/18/2005 8:41:33 AM PDT by frankjr

***scroll down for an important update***

A number of us in the blogosphere have been catching wind of rumors that a surface-to-air missile was fired at an America West flight originating out of New York. Here's a post at Little Green Footballs, where many commenters are wisely skeptical but wanting more info.

I just got off the phone with Phil Gee, associate manager of media relations at America West, who promptly returned my late evening call. Here's what he told me:

On Sept. 15 (Thursday), America West Flight 17 took off from JFK Airport at 6:05pm EDT [Update: The actual time of departure was 6:49 pm. -MM]. The captain "took the initiative," says Gee, and reported an "irregularity" to air traffic control as the plane was ascending. The plane continued to Phoenix and landed safely at 8:55pm MST. FBI and other authorities met and interviewed all of the crew and passengers on the plane. The investigation is continuing.

Gee would not say whether the pilot or other crew or passengers reported witnessing a missile firing.

"Nothing is confirmed," Gee said.

***

Although one tipster says America West has informed its pilots of the incident, Gee denied that any company bulletin has been issued. Gee mentioned that he had heard that other airline pilots had posted about the incident on an online forum. E-mail or trackback if you have seen other pilot accounts.

***

Update: A government aviation official who asked me not to reveal her name says the "missile siting was [a] false alarm:"

The sighting was reported near Colt's Neck, NJ, which is a major route south out of NY. FAA set up a small temporary flight restriction around the area while checking radar files. Turned out to be nothing more than birds, and [a] big game of "telephone."

***


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airlines; airlinesecurity; americawest; flight17; jfkairport; sam; samattack
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To: Yasotay

I'm no authority on most of the coverups. But that lame bird theory in AA587 got my attention. The coverup I studied best was another air flight: The Brown Crash. [More on that later. Time for work. FRegards....]


41 posted on 09/18/2005 11:05:27 AM PDT by Arthur Wildfire! March (Don't kick yourself for not giving more to charity: mug the tax payer, you silly schmuck. /sarcasm)
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To: msnimje

42 posted on 09/18/2005 11:09:55 AM PDT by JOE6PAK (Make somebody happy. Mind your own business.)
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To: Prime Choice
accept that a bunch of frickin' IDIOTS ran around spewing an UNVERIFIED RUMOR...and when the UNVERIFIED RUMOR went on to be a big blob of NOTHING, suddenly whackjobs come out of the woodwork claiming there's something dark and sinister afoot.

All rumors are unverified. That's why they are called rumors in the first place. When a rumor is verified, it is no longer a rumor, but rather, a truth.

BTW, maybe TWA Flight 800 was taken down by a flock of birds rather than a quirky fuel line as the government has told us. Repeat after me: "I believe everything the government tells me, I believe everything the government tells me..."

43 posted on 09/18/2005 11:16:22 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: frankjr

Colts Neck, NJ is roughly 25 miles straight line distance from JFK Airport. How high is an airliner 25 miles downrange from the departure point? My guess is it's getting higher than a shoulder-fired SAM could get to it.


44 posted on 09/18/2005 11:37:25 AM PDT by No Longer Free State (Saddam Hussein harboured and paid terrorists. Any questions?)
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To: frankjr; All; Happy2BMe; Memother; chesty_puller; Bigun; JohnHuang2; mhking; ...
Image hosted by TinyPic.com

Nothing to see here move along !

45 posted on 09/18/2005 11:55:44 AM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK (secus acutulus exspiro ab Acheron bipes actio absol ab Acheron supplico)
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To: MikeinIraq
then they probably didn't find any evidence of any kind of missile

Ah, but did they find evidence of birds?  =)

46 posted on 09/18/2005 12:30:41 PM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires.)
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To: Prime Choice
I'm not surprised to see which side you're on.

I understand what you are saying, but haven't taken any "sides" on the argument.  I have no more info than what was posted here, and at other places, and am not quite ready to say for sure what the real story is.  I guess some of us have become slightly "conspiratory" in our reactions to things but when you look at the lies thrust upon us by our gov't and MSM you can see why we are.

At this point we don't know the real truth (and neither do you).  I'm just keeping an open mind until more information materializes ... if it ever does.

47 posted on 09/18/2005 12:37:37 PM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires.)
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To: softwarecreator
"Ah, but did they find evidence of birds?"


48 posted on 09/18/2005 12:39:05 PM PDT by frankjr
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To: frankjr

hahahha ... very good!


49 posted on 09/18/2005 12:43:15 PM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires.)
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To: Arthur Wildfire! March
I remember that the 'flock of birds' theory flopped in a plane crash right after 9-11, so I understand your suspicion.

Right.  That's why I have such a hard time fathoming this story.  Could be true I guess.  Reminds me of that bit from the movie " Airplane!" which goes:

Controller (on the phone): I know but this guy has no flying experience at all.  He's a menace to himself and everything else in the air ... yes  ...  birds too.

50 posted on 09/18/2005 12:49:22 PM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires.)
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To: maryz
Well, at least that one didn't come from "A government aviation official who asked me not to reveal her name . . ."

True.  The scary part is that President Bush kept a straight face while declaring it a "religion of peace".

51 posted on 09/18/2005 12:51:56 PM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires.)
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To: Yasotay

http://hometown.aol.com/missiletwa800/tapes.htm

Your link is interesting, thanks for sharing it.


52 posted on 09/18/2005 1:08:14 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny (Freeper's prayers for healing are powerful and God did hear them. Thank you!)
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To: nw_arizona_granny

You are welcome. I wish I had the time to research those things like others, but some things should not be kept secret. If it really was birds then the government should release the transcripts and tapes .....


53 posted on 09/18/2005 1:15:26 PM PDT by Yasotay
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To: ATOMIC_PUNK

Thanks for the ping!


54 posted on 09/18/2005 1:19:31 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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To: frankjr

Fascinating. A flock of birds approximately 1 foot wide, 5 feet long, who's tailfeathers are all on fire.


55 posted on 09/18/2005 1:22:12 PM PDT by Lazamataz (Islam is merely Nazism without the snappy fashion sense.)
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To: Iscool
If there was no video of planes hitting the twin towers, just imagine the stories the Feds would have come up with...

"Due to the substandard construction at WTC 1 and 2, the buildings spontaneously caught fire and tumbled down. The few misguided people who claim to have seen an airliner crashing into the second tower were actually viewing an addled seagull." -- Department of Transportation, September 12, 2001.

56 posted on 09/18/2005 1:31:16 PM PDT by Lazamataz (Islam is merely Nazism without the snappy fashion sense.)
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To: Iscool

Hmm...That bad huh?
I read the conspiracy sites for entertainment..


57 posted on 09/18/2005 1:35:51 PM PDT by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: All

The terrorists are now training suicide pigeons! The Pigeons are taught to flock and head for the engines of US Passenger planes! The Pigeons are promised they will receive unlimited bread crumbs and statues upon which to perch in heaven in return for their sacrifice.

Remember, you heard it hear first!


58 posted on 09/18/2005 1:37:33 PM PDT by PajamaTruthMafia
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To: softwarecreator; frankjr

LOL

I will defer to frankjr's comment

LOL!!


59 posted on 09/18/2005 1:53:37 PM PDT by MikefromOhio (Hey Fox News, MORE MOLLY, LESS Greta van Talksoutthesideofhermouth)
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To: Lazamataz; MikeinIraq
A flock of birds approximately 1 foot wide, 5 feet long, who's tailfeathers are all on fire.

Breaking news from Debka: The terrorists are now training the mythical Phoenix bird to attack planes!!

60 posted on 09/18/2005 2:00:44 PM PDT by softwarecreator (Facts are to liberals as holy water is to vampires.)
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