[aristeides]

I wonder why seven pilots, and not eight, when there were four planes. You'd think two pilots per plane would make sense, so that the plot on each plane could survive the death or incapacitation of one pilot. I kind of suspect the real number is eight, and the authorities are not yet aware of the qualification of the eighth pilot.

[Lessismore]

I wonder why seven pilots, and not eight, when there were four planes.

Possibly the eigth was the guy detained on an immigration charge in Minnesota.

[okie01]

"I kind of suspect the real number is eight, and the authorities are not yet aware of the qualification of the eighth pilot."

It is probably more than that. Four of the five hi-jackers on AA #11 were identified as pilots, leaving only a single pilot for each of the other three planes.