Passengers voted to attack hijackers

CNN ^ | September 12, 2001 Posted: 10:56 PM EDT (0256 GMT) | CNN

[patent]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Passengers on board the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in rural Pennsylvania Tuesday apparently decided to attack the terrorists who had commandeered the plane, according to family members of one passenger.

Passenger Jeremy Glick, flying with his 2-month-old child Emerson, called his wife Liz and in-laws in New York on a cell phone to say the plane had been hijacked.

[soccermom]

Thanks.

[oneway]

You're not a little suspicious that our favorite network CNN gets a scoop like this? I am. It's too neat and tidy.

Fred...its not a scoop...they ahve been playing this interview on local bay area stations since around 10:30 today...its a KCBS interview

[Mudboy Slim]

"Thank God for these American heros!"

Yep...as soon as I heard of this plane crash, I assumed something like this must have happened, but this is the most definitive proof of that I've seen yet. My prayers go out to these folks and their families.

FReegards...MUD

[bootless]

What valor. I am in awe.

I heard a taped replay of Deena Burnett's interview on KCBS this evening. The most poignant part was when she said, (paraphrasing) "I just wish that you were able to know him."

God bless her and her family, and God bless his soul.

[Mudboy Slim]

"This sentence made me realize that this article is contrived. I know they are trying to serve a purpose, but I just don't believe most of it."

How so, Mr. Mertz? The timing seems to work...I was watching the carnage of the WTC attacks when I heard news of a fourth hijacked plane, why don't you believe those on the phone would have had similar knowledge? IMO, the timeline fits.

FReegards...MUD

[habs4ever]

The bomb threat on board only confirms that, armed only with knives, these jerks will detonate the bombs. The bomb will go off.If they planned to escape, they would have needed guns.To have a "normal" hijacking inplies landing and negotiation and using hostages to shield themselves.It is the prospect of a firefight on the ground that turns the hostages into valuable pawns for the terrorists.Without the guns, there is no landing, no firefight, , no need to worry about a long trip in the air.What they were armed with determined the outcome, at least from my point of view.With guns, there was a chance for a peaceful resolution;without them, it was a suicide mission.Do you follow my reasoning here?

[TERMINATTOR]

My length of steel pipe has a .30-60 round in the chamber and several more beneath it. It also says U.S. Rifle Cal 30 M1 on it. It's better known an the M1 Garand.

[ppaul]

Since becoming aware of the details that led to the horrible events over the last two days - I wondered, how could all those passengers not rushed these slimeballs who were armed only with box cutters? Then I realized that most of these passengers probably just thought it was another standard hijacking - that once the hijackers were flown to wherever they wanted to go, the passengers would be released. It has happened so many times. Why risk your neck, and possibly the lives of all on board? How could anyone imagine, in their wildest nightmares, what these demon-possessed Arabs had in mind?

The horror.

[soccermom]

No I don't. You're playing armchair quarterback. I can guarantee you I wouldn't be drawing any inferences on their plans based on their choice of weapons. There are many terrorist who claim to have bombs, but really don't. As with any other weapon, there can always be a threat without a certainty of follow-through. They were told the plane was going to land. They had no reason to suspect otherwise.

[fuzzy122]

Now THAT IS AMERICA! Whooo-raaah!!!

God Bless them ALL

[habs4ever]

I'm sorry, but I'm not playing armchair QB, and it is unfortunate to have to think like I have been doing.I am not in any way casting aspertions on those poor people, nor second guessing them.I am pointing out what I think, from a logical viewpoint, the chances were of doing nothing, following the terrorists instructions, or storming them.All the choices were equally BAD.So the dye was already cast before these folks could come to a decision.The information inputs didn't change at all.I'll leave it it that.Please think about, you may change your mind.

[mrustow]

See also:

It DID Happen Here

[aristeides]

Both stories could be true. Note that the CNN story does not say that the passengers' decision caused the plane to crash.

Some interesting paragraphs from yesterday's Washington Post article on the Newark-San Francisco flight:

Leaders of Congress -- including Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) -- were told at a briefing by the Capitol Police that the hijacked plane might have been bound for the Capitol or Camp David, the presidential retreat in Thurmont, Md., 85 miles southeast of the crash site, according to participants in the meeting.

The participants discussed the possibility of shooting down the aircraft, said Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)

"The question I heard asked was: 'Who has the authority to order a commercial jetliner shot down by the military?'" Pence said. However, the congressional leaders soon learned that the plane had already crashed.

The North American Aerospace Defense Comman (NORAD) issued a statement denying that United Flight 93 had been shot down by U.S. military aircraft.

On another point, note that the CNN story says the hijackers claimed to have bombs. Could that claim of theirs have been true? Might there have been secondary explosions of such bombs at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?

[LouD]

I've got a 5 D Cell Mag light - It also doubles as a flashlight. However, it is only one step in a broad continuum of possible response.

[harpseal]

"The men voted to attack the terrorists,"

"The men" says it all. They are heroes and the deserve a Medal of Honor, IMHO.

Stay well - YORKTOWN

[KneelBeforeZod]

civilians can get the "Congressional Service Award" or something...my friend got one...but for something this major, there might be a "higher up" recognition.

[Chief Inspector Clouseau]

Do you understand what I'm saying here? Does it make sense to you?

I do understand, but I believe you are oversimplifying it. It is a fact that most hijackings do not result in mass death...the crew would incorporate this into their response and into the advice they give the passengers.

In this instance, it was tragically wrong. The people on the 4th plane had information that the people on at least first two planes did not. Therefore, the decision was decidedly different for people on that plane...they knew that this particular hijacking was NOT likely to end on a tarmac somewhere. As a result, they took action.

Thus, IMHO it is unreasonable to posthumously criticize the passengers on board the other planes. It is a natural reaction to a devastating event, but it is not rational and does not take into account the likely state of mind of people on those planes.

[KneelBeforeZod]

Congressional Gold Medal...thats what it is called.

But thats not what my friend got...I can't remember exactly what it was.

Congressional Gold Medal

[KneelBeforeZod]

go to Art Bell's website, and you can find two THOUSAND peole who have been on flying saucers, travel through time, see dead people, know what the martians are saying with the crop circles, etc etc etc