Why have not we heard more about this?
What has been done to find the possible terrorists?
Were there security camera pictures of these individuals? If so why were they not shown to the public for possible identification and capture?
We all hear rumors. I too wondered why we didn't hear more about possible hijacks which didn't take place because of decisive action on the part of the airports and controllers. I had to conclude (of course I don't know) our law enforcement took names and reviewed passenger lists from that day and eventually this led to other 'halts' to later terrorist events by terrorists unable to complete their missions on that fateful day.
Very shortly after 9/11, I did read that it was determined that several other planes were possible targets, but in all the confusion, when the planes were grounded, the passengers deplaned along with terrorists, and none were caught.
I remember they said that a plane in Atlanta was involved.
Flight 23 is scheduled to leave from JFK to LAX at 0855.
Makes you wonder what their intended target would have been....shudder.
I recall hearing similar things shortly after 9/11, as well, such as unknown middle eastern men in flight apparel who were dead heading, but disappeared after flights were grounded.
On and shortly after 9-11-01, supposition was that up to 10 flights may have been targetted and had terrorist groups onboard. For various reasons, they were not all able to accomplish their missions. Some speculated or had info that planes taking off on both the east coast and west coast were targetted for hijacking.
IIRC, Flight 93 had a delayed take-off. That was what allowed those passengers to later find out that attacks were underway.
There was a group of ME men who missed a plane in San Antonio (IIRC), and took Amtrack to St. Louis.
We have no idea how many actual terrorist plots were supposed to take place that day.
The original plot, sized down by bin Laden, had planes also in Europe/England being hijacked. That part apparently was cancelled.
I remember hearing this shortly after 9-11. Story lasted not more than a day or two and then dropped off the radar.
The MSM deciding Americans didn't need to know - no harm no foul?? Maybe?
Yup. I saw that...there were also hints that there were more than one such event.
IIRC, Moussoui (the so-called 20ieth hijacker) said one time that there were 5 teams who were supposed to hijack planes that morning.
If true, then the 5th team failed to act and disappeared into the throngs of passengers.
BUMP for excellence in freeping. I wonder if those terrorists are presently languishing at Gitmo? Preferrably, they were "renditioned" to Guatemala, or someplace with lots of water and electricity.
Found this on www.cooperativeresearch.com
September 19, 2001: Unverified Reports of Additional Flights to Be Hijacked
The FBI claims on this day that there were six hijacking teams on the morning of 9/11. [New York Times, 9/19/2001; Guardian, 10/13/2001] A different report claims investigators are privately saying eight. [Independent, 9/25/2001]
However, the reports below suggest there may have been as many as eight aborted flights, leading to a potential total of 12 hijackings:
Knives of the same type used in the successful hijackings were found taped to the backs of fold-down trays on a Continental Airlines flight from Newark. [Guardian, 9/19/2001]
The FBI is investigating American Airlines Flight 43, which was scheduled to leave Boston about 8:10 a.m. bound for Los Angeles but was canceled minutes before takeoff due to a mechanical problem. [BBC, 9/18/2001; Chicago Tribune, 9/18/2001; Guardian, 9/19/2001] Another version claims the flight left from Newark and made it as far as Cincinnati before being grounded in the nationwide air ban. [New York Times, 9/19/2001]
Knives and box cutters were found on two separate canceled Delta Airlines planes later that day, one leaving Atlanta for Brussels and the other leaving from Boston. [Time, 9/22/2001; Independent, 9/25/2001]
On September 14, two knives were found on an Air Canada flight that would have flown to New York on 9/11 if not for the air ban. [CNN, 10/15/2001]
Two men arrested on 9/11 may have lost their nerve on American Airlines Flight 1729 from Newark to San Antonio via Dallas that was scheduled to depart at 8:50 a.m., and was later forced to land in St. Louis. Alternately, they may have been planning an attack for September 15, 2001. [New York Times, 9/19/2001]
There may have been an attempt to hijack United Airlines Flight 23 flying from Boston to Los Angeles around 9:00 a.m. Shortly after 9:00 a.m., United Airlines flight dispatcher Ed Ballinger sent out a warning about the first WTC crash to the flights he was handling (see (After 9:00 a.m.) September 11, 2001). Because of this warning, the crew of Flight 23 told the passengers it had a mechanical problem and immediately returned to the gate. Ballinger was later told by authorities that six men initially wouldn’t get off the plane. When the men finally disembarked, they disappeared into the crowd and never returned. Later, authorities checked their luggage and found copies of the Koran and al-Qaeda instruction sheets. [Chicago Daily Herald, 4/14/2004]
In mid-2002, a NORAD deputy commander says “we don’t know for sure” if Flight 23 was to have been hijacked. [Globe and Mail, 6/13/2002]
Knives were found stashed in the seats on a plane due to leave Boston that was delayed due to technical problems and then canceled. [Guardian, 10/13/2001]
A box cutter knife was found under a seat cushion on American Airlines Flight 160, a 767 that would have flown from San Diego to New York on the morning of 9/11 but for the air ban. [Chicago Tribune, 9/23/2001]
The FBI is said to be seeking a number of passengers who failed to board the same, rescheduled flights when the grounding order on commercial planes in the US was lifted. [BBC, 9/18/2001]
The Independent points out suspicions have been fueled “that staff at US airports may have played an active role in the conspiracy and helped the hijackers to circumvent airport security.” They also note, “It is possible that at least some of the flights that have come under scrutiny were used as decoys, or as fallback targets.” [Independent, 9/25/2001]
Wow! Talk about going down a memory hole. I vaguely recall something about this at the time. Seems like the the story got lost in all the coverage of the successful hijacks.
It's not new information. I've heard about it before. I don't know if the men were tracked down. With all the other screw-ups it wouldn't surprise me if they got away.
I heard this story as well. Can’t explain the lack of attention to it. I can’t explain why people are voting for McInsane either.