With the attitude and level of (in)tolerance we have toward potential trouble makers on board flights, I am wondering WHAT IF a Sep 11 like attempt were to take place today. Lets say the same gang of 19 ( Atta et-al, Marwan Al-Shahhi et al, etc) armed with the same box cutters and the same level of physical skill were to attempt something similar, would the passengers be able to take them on and overpower them? I know they nearly did on United 93 but there was one fewer hijacker. This is assuming there are no armed air marshals on board. Are the passengers' determination enough ?
Yes. Unequivocally.
I think so. But as for the pilots, it won't matter. They won't open the cockpit door. They may end up landing a plane full of dead bodies, but at least there won't be anyone dead on the ground.
Oh yeah.
September 11 upped the ante, so to speak. Waiting for hostage negotiations is on longer an option.
Either the flight crew retains control of the plane or you are dead, if not by the actions of the hijackers, then by the necessity to shoot the plane down in some relatively unpopulated place to prevent another 9/11.
Once that sinks in, there is no other option.
You are dead already. If you want to have a chance to live, win at any cost.
> Are the passengers' determination enough ?
I wouldn't like to see it put to the test.
Speaking personally, I'd prefer to die fighting. But in Truth, on the day, against determined Bad Heads armed with edged weapons? It would take a brave man under the best of circumstances to take on that scenario.
Which says all the more about the bravery of the passengers of Flight 93.
Even if they manage to take over the cabin, they won't get into the cockpit - the doors are reinforced now.
Plus they reacted *after* the perps had control of the plane. That wouldn't happen now.
Of course that answer is so simple it isn't even worth of regard. The choice now is between action and death. I prefer action even if I die trying to take out the a**holes. At least someone else might live. And I probably will be okay if I have help. Even if I don't make it at least I went down trying. I guess those sports like football, wrestling, fighting your brother/neighborhood kids and all that weight lifting through the years would in the end be good for something. Action will take place!
Yes. They succeeded because first nobody on board AA11, UA 175 AA 77 dreamt this could happen. They sta back and did what the crew told them to do. UA 93 knew it by then and fought back. Second, 4 arab small-dicked pricks are no match for 20 or 30 angry American men, even democrats, in a fight to the death. There is no doubt a few of the defenders will get cut, some badly, maybe even killed, but the weight of defending numbers would prevail, I am sure of that.