Bid to Thwart Hijackers May Have Led to Pa. Crash

The Washington Post ^ | September 13, 2001 | Charles Lane and John Mintz

[Tree of Liberty]

As United Airlines Flight 93 entered its last desperate moments in the sky, 31-year-old passenger Jeremy Glick used a cell phone to tell his wife, Lyzbeth, of his impending death -- and pledged to go down fighting.

Glick told his wife that the Boeing 757's cockpit had been taken over by three Middle Eastern-looking men wielding knives and a red box that they claimed was a bomb. The terrorists, wearing red headbands, had ordered the pilots, flight attendants and passengers to the rear of the plane, which was headed from Newark to San Francisco.

[Tree of Liberty]

May these heros be warmly welcomed into His heavenly kingdom.

[Tree of Liberty]

bump

[darvon]

Impressions.

* I am sorta suprised that a cell phone could get a 30 minute long call from a jet going several hundred MPH..

* With everybody screaming for more airport security, I was suprised at the weapons. I thought they must have had some ceramic Uzis or some such. But simple knives were it (assuming the red box wasn't a bomb). That means that the existing conditions werent so bad... I mean almost ANY security procedures won't catch a ceramic knife..

* Now 6 men (some reports) armed with knives are one thing, but when I first heard it was knives I was thinking 1-2 and I immediately wondered why didn't the crowd overwhelm them. Six is definitely a different story..

I think one of the reasons is that, previously, hijackings weren't a lost cause so the best victim strategy might be go along. THAT has changed now, so it will remain to be seen if others will take out/overwhelm the terrorists..

The news of the fatal NVC flights seemed to allow the PA passengers to decide that the meek approach wasn't a viable option..

The passangers of the PA flight are certainly heroes, but this does seem to bring into quesiton the other flight's passengers. But again, they didn't necessarily think the terrorists were kamikaze..

[nkycincinnatikid]

But for the altruistic heroism of this man and undoubtedly others on that plane, we americans may have been condemned to watching our Capitol building collapsing in flames. While soon we should all reflect long and hard at the path this countries elite has chosen which could inspire this sort of maniacal fury against us, we must first savagely avenge our dead, and secure our soil.GOD BLESS AMERICA!

[Tree of Liberty]

* I am sorta suprised that a cell phone could get a 30 minute long call from a jet going several hundred MPH.

He was probably using an air phone, not a cell phone. That's my guess anyway.

The passangers of the PA flight are certainly heroes, but this does seem to bring into quesiton the other flight's passengers. But again, they didn't necessarily think the terrorists were kamikaze..

True. People on the first two flights might have thought that the plane would just land in Cuba, or something, and they'd be let go. Once word of what was happening elsewhere got out, those on the flight that went down in PA knew that their death was a virtual innevitability, especially if they didn't get back control of the plane.

[Tree of Liberty]

From your lips to God's ears.

[Tree of Liberty]

from Jeff Head's website

FOILED ATTACK ON CAPITOL, WASHINGTON, DC
The terrorists used knives and box cutters on these threee aircraft to commondere the planes. They also inidcated that they had bombs. Cell phone calls from the hijacked aircraft indicated a standard method of operation where the terrorists, who numbered between three and six on each aircraft, would take a stewardess, cut their throat and then take control of the aircraft when the pilot or co-pilot came out to investigate. The terrorists then installed their own pilot in the aircraft, either killing the pilot, or herding them with the passengers and other stewardesses to the back of the plane.

A fourth jet had been hijacked, United Airlines Flight 93. As the terrorists took control of this aircraft, the pilot turned the intercom on and the passengers heard all that was happening. Somewhere near Cleveland, OH, this aircraft turned around and headed for Washington, DC. It was indicated that the terrorists planned to crash it into the capital building.

On board this aircraft, several passengers heard what was occuring. A mand named Tom Burnett called his wife in California on his cell phone from the plane. He was the Chief Operating Officer in a small company in Pleasanton, CA. He was the father of three children. Here is what he told his wife.

Our flight has been hijacked. The terrorists have knives and have stabbed someone. They indicate they are going to crash our plane into the capital building in Washington, DC.

I know we're all going to die, but three of us are going to do something, I love you honey."

Another man, Jeremy Glick, traveling on the same flight with his two month old son, Emerson, also called his wife. Jeremy was 6'-2" tall and weighed 220 pounds. Here is wha he told his wife.

I have seen three Arabic men who have taken control of the plane. We are now flying over open countryside. One of the hijackers has a red box he says is a bomb, and one has a knife of some type.

Some of the other men are saying that the World Trade Center has had airliners like ours crash into it. Is that true? [He is told it is and there is a pause of a couple of minutes]

The other men and myself have voted to attack the terrorists. We are going to do so. I will get back to you in a little while.

[KC_for_Freedom]

True. People on the first two flights might have thought that the plane would just land in Cuba, or something, and they'd be let go. Once word of what was happening elsewhere got out, those on the flight that went down in PA knew that their death was a virtual innevitability, especially if they didn't get back control of the plane

Yes, we know from a secret radio message that in one other flight the pilot was assurred that if they went along no one would be hurt. One can only guess at the last minure understanding that must have occurred in the final muments as that plane flew low among the cities skyscrapers.

This makes much sense, since the ground response to the plane's passengers calls would inform all aboard about what was happening. Those people died knowing they had no choice but to resist. Makes much more sense. Now, any future hyjacking the passengers will always have doubts as to the hyjacker's intentions. We can expect more resistance by passengers and crew then ever before. (The sleeping giant awakens in many areas.)

[He Rides A White Horse]

To not fight back would be to dishonor these people.

[Tree of Liberty]

I wholeheartedly agree. I doubt that there is a risk that we won't do something serious, though.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Well, we have been talking tough for a long time. Pan Am 103, Kobar Towers, USS Cole, African embassies....TALK TALK TALK...

[angkor]

previously, hijackings weren't a lost cause so the best victim strategy might be go along.

But now the plane is a weapon, and the passengers merely inconvenient meat.

Make the cockpit an unassailable bunker, and increase the number of sky marshals tenfold.

[js1138]

When you strike at the king you must kill the king.

I suspect this fourth plane was headed for the White House or Capitol. The fact that it was stopped by ordinary American Joes will be the story of the new millenium. This symbolism will live longer than the loss of the towers.

[angkor]

This is one example of the several short letters I faxed to all of my elected officials last night. I encourage everyone to get their own fax machines warmed-up.

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Via Fax: 202-456-2461

RE: Islamic Terrorism

Dear Mr. President,

Today I have been listening to C-SPAN radio and have heard from our Congress an unending stream of condemnation, "outrage", and talk.

The time for talk is finished, and the time for action has arrived. [emphasis in the original]

I want a formal declaration of war now - not tomorrow, not "after all the evidence is in", but NOW - against each and every one of the Islamic terrorists and organizations that have been threatening America for the last 15 years. This obviously includes the following individuals and groups:

Osama bin-Laden
Al Qaida
Yassar Arafat
The Afghani Taliban
Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Saddam Hussein & the Baath Party
Mohamar Quaddafi
Islamic Jihad
Hamas

[SNIP FOR PRIVACY] But the individuals and groups named above are not. They are murderers, and have been declaring war against us for at least a decade.

I want no more talk from Congress or the Senate. I want decisive, irrevocable, and unforgettable action by the United States to commence against these cowardly "soldiers of the Jihad" now. Today. Immediately.

Sincerely,
[angkor]