Nor am I. There was simply no human way to foresee the best path.
I'm not certain I would have rammed even if I knew and I were the pilot. I'd venture that most of the pilots in Dad's squadron would, but a trained Marine on a mission is a far different animal (a teufelhund) than an ordinary pilot on an ordinary flight thrust into an unexpected emergency with no precedent and no chance of falling back on training or time to think.
dangus ~ Unknowable to him. It was my first thought that ironically, he might have prevented half of 9-11. But then again, the planes struck largely empty towers. If two planes collided in mid-Air over Manhattan, might the loss of life been even worse?
See what I mean? Yup you do...
ealgeone ~ Had he known exactly what was happening. You’re Monday morning quarterbacking.
No, just speculating on an alternative history.
The duty of an airplane captain is first to the passengers and crew of the plane and second to the integrity of the plane which insures the first duty. No way would he put the passengers, crew and craft in danger purposely. He’s a hero.