[catonsville]

I heard that flights that normally had fewer passengers were purpusely picked by the hijackers.

[Henry F. Bowman]

Our local talk radio guy reported how one (lucky) person tried to buy a ticket on one of the flights, but was told it was sold out.

Then again, we have heard lots of urban legends, like to cop who rode the debris down from the 82nd floor. No evidence to verify it.

[chicagogrl]

Hadn't heard it but it sounds likely considering how few passengers were on board.

[cricket]

"Anybody else hear this, my source was hearsay from a client. "

Saw this and heard this from news sources yesterday; did not know if it was reported as 'fact' or speculation, but seems very likely the kind of thing they would do.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Seems to me that one of the guys who went after the hijackers on the plane that went down in Pennsylvania had missed a flight the night before and gotten on the doomed flight.

[KSCITYBOY]

If thats true they did it only as to make it easier to control the passengers..

[Ipberg]

Buying all those tickets would be one of the higher costs in the budget for this cowardly attack, second to flight school.

[3fingerwilly]

We have a friend that's a travel agent. She confirmed they were usually full flights, and in fact, was surprised there were so few on board. It seems logical, and in keeping with the meticulous planning involved.

[petuniasevan]

The now-defunct OMNI Magazine once ran an article detailing the mysterious phenomenon of lower numbers of passengers on trains and aircraft that are involved in crashes. (Overall numbers over time, not single occurrences).

They concluded there was no scientific explanation for the phenomenon.

[Maceman]

One thing I know is true is that Paige Hackel, a family friend who was killed on flight 175, had wanted to travel with her friend Ruth McCourt. McCourt could not get on Hackel's flight, so she ended up booking a seat for herself and her 4-year old daughter on flight 11.

My wife and I have been wondering why McCourt could not get a seat on the same flight as Hackel, since flight 175 was DEFINITELY not sold out -- or at least not anywhere near full on the morning that it took off.

This story is NOT an urban legend. It was reported in the wire service stories, and I can tell you ftom sad personal knowledge that it is true.

[truthkeeper]

I heard that they deliberately selected lightly-traveled flights.

[Nogbad]

"I heard this afternoon that the 4 planes that crashed had large blocks of seats that were purchased but no-showed.
Perhaps just to keep the ratio of passengers to terrorists low.
Anybody else hear this, my source was hearsay from a client."

Michael Savage speculated about this on September 12.

Listen to Savage if you want to stay up to date.