Posted on 09/11/2001 5:15:20 PM PDT by Map Kernow
THE pilots of the four hijacked aircraft were probably murdered before their planes were diverted on their devastating suicide missions, terrorism experts speculated.
No fewer than 30 highly-trained renegades - some 'graduates' of a secret school of terrorism - would have been involved in the extraordinarily well synchronised series of deadly attacks.
As experts pieced together their audacious operation, it was clear that no pilot would have steered their plane into a building packed with people.
Instead, it is possible they were shot dead in the cockpit and their seats taken by terrorists with at least a rudimentary ability to manoeuvre the jets into their devastating suicide flight paths.
But there was also speculation the pilots realised the full horror of what was going to happen and tried to do something to stop it. This might explain why the United Airlines plane from Newark crashed into a wood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, rather than a city landmark.
Either way, experts were agog at how four planes were able to be hijacked at the same time.
Details of an operation that was as technically outstanding as it was horrific will no doubt emerge in the coming days.
Mike Yardley, a terrorism expert and former army officer, said: "This is a stunning security and intelligence failure. In both those spheres, major errors have evidently occurred. Heads should roll.
"One could have conceived of one or even a couple of planes being hijacked, but to coordinate the hijack of four or more is absolutely extraordinary.
"Intelligence agencies should have picked up some warning."
The terrorists' operation could have been years in the planning and would have almost certainly involved cooperation from men on the ground.
Hijack expert Dr John Potter said the suicide hijackers could have attended a secret school of hijack training.
"It is quite possible that those involved were graduates of that training school, wherever it might be. There is a suspicion it exists somewhere," he said.
Those involved on the ground may have been airport staff who were 'sleepers' - terrorists prepared to bide their time before striking.
"People might have infiltrated into aviation systems years ago and then merely waited to ensure that all the attacks worked," said Kieran Daly, editor of the Air Transport Intelligence Internet news service.
Modern weapons made from materials other than plastic may also have been used to avoid detection at airport terminals.
And the fact that all the hijacked planes were domestic flights made it easier for the terrorists, who would have struggled to hijack an international airliner.
I think the pilot that went down in PA , heard all the other pilots talking on radio, and refused to open the cabin, saying F*#^ you if we're going to die any way....and this pissed off the terrorist and he blew up the plane (plastic explosives wouldn't have showed up, in the metal detectors. Would they ? )
Two months ago I went to Philly Airport to go to Florida.
As I went thru the metal detector, I found out that I had forgotten to leave my pocketknife at home. It was a Gerber with a flick open blade, 3 1/2 inches, serrated.
The lady at the security checkpoint looked at it, and waved me thru. I got on the plane with it. I remembered to put it into checked baggage on the way back.
They've also routinely let me thru with my Leatherman multi-tool, even though it has knife blades. They just notice that it's an open-up plier multi-tool
Call or write your elected and insist that our civilian pilots be given what they need to protect the cockpit, themselves and their crew as well as the passengers. Like Newt Gingrich, I don't want justice in this mess, I want action and I want it fast!
These guys were pros and were probably flying the planes themselves.
Knives are easy. On another thread, someone noted that she ate at a restaraunt that was in the secure area of the airport. The table setting included a steak knife. Just order dinner and take the steak knife with you onto the plane
I predict that we will NOT allow ourselves to driven into huddled fear. Even if we can not ABSOLUTELY prove who has done this, we should then realize once and for all the absolute indifference of the Universe, and that we must TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES and totally destroy ANYONE who is on the top of our list of known terrorists and their sanctuaries that we know that have EVER attacked our citizens and our great country. DEATH to the cowards.
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External Security
Federal Air Marshal (FAM) Program
"The FAM program provides an anti-hijacking capability for U.S. civil aviation. The program provides a covert, armed security force capable of conducting anti-hijacking operations and of deploying rapidly. FAMs are specially trained Special Agents who travel on U.S. air carriers along routes and into areas where worldwide terrorist activities indicate the highest probability of hijacking. FAMs are authorized to carry firearms and, if they reasonably believe a person has or is committing a felony, they can make arrests without warrant for any offense against the U.S.
The FAM program serves as a deterrent to hijacking and other forms of terrorist activity aboard inflight aircraft. It is authorized by the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, the Anti-Hijacking Act of 1947, and the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985. Order 1650.6, Federal Air Marshal Program, governs the FAM program. "
http://cas.faa.gov/fam.html
Excellent analysis. The perpetrators seem clear though. Sep 11, Towers and Pentagon, and hijacking + suicide directly point to Muslims specifically in my mind Osama and Saddam.
The Hudson River is directly in front of WTC. A US pilot would hve dunked it right there.
Also, there was a clear maneuver of the second plane to actually roll the plane 90 degrees just before impact, no doubt so more damage would be inflicted.
An extremely detailed attack and destruction plan.
I hear many of these security people are barely above minimum wage, but do you think these killers could have by-passed security some other way, besides going right through the metal detectors and x ray machines?
All the skyjackings in our past were mere inconviences, fly to Cuba, etc. I imagine that most passengers weren't too alarmed, at first.
My son works in the op. center of a major airline. He told me that they were getting the info near real time . It is very likely that the Pa. pilot had a heads up on what was in store for his flight and sabotaged the plan. No US pilot would knowingly fly into a building, even with a gun to his head.
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