Fuel Dump Inconsistent with Lack of Distress Call

copycat's litter box ^ | 11/12/01 | copycat

[Crimson]

The A-300 was designed without the capability to dump fuel. I just checked an A-300 flight manual to confirm that. Which means it can land at its max takeoff gross weight.

[Lady In Blue]

In addition, eyewitness accounts clearly state that the right wing of the plane was seen to explode and take out the tail.

I heard Rush say this morning that the engine in airbuses are located on the rightside,near the wing.

[null and void]

I have a hard time believing that the Jihad on America and this exploding plane are coincidence.

We've had planes crashing for years, long before this Jihad was declared.

Oh dear! They've been attacking is for years. I'm glad we finaly found out...

[Lady In Blue]

In addition, eyewitness accounts clearly state that the right wing of the plane was seen to explode and take out the tail.

I heard Rush say this morning that the engine in airbuses are located on the rightside,near the wing.

[cookcounty]

Precedents?

Can anyone name a previous crash that:

--occured in good weather
--with a large aircraft
--with no cockpit communication, despite being in range, during a time when communication would be normal, indeed expected.
--with debris widely scattered
--in an extremely sudden event?

Please do not include previous terrorist events like PanAm Lockerbie or Air India. I want structural failures only.

[gunnut]

Most likely they found aviation fuel in the bay and assumed the pilot dumped the fuel. If the plane did have an explosion on board or the engine came apart, fuel may have spilled versus being dumped by the pilot.

[null and void]

I'm sure we'll find out whatever the government wants us to know...

[getsoutalive]

I'm sure we'll find out whatever the government wants us to know...

'nuff said.

[cookcounty]

I'm just taking the terrorist slant, because the press and "experts" are in such a rush to say "this certainly looks like it isn't terrorism," while not quite ruling it out.

Re Int'l positive baggage check I'm under the impression that Offshore Caribbean flights may not necessarily get these checks. I'm going to check with my daughter (AA ticket agent for 2 years) when she gets home to see if my memory is correct. Remember, PanAm 103 and Air-India had positive bag checks as well. It didn't prevent them from being targets.

[copycat]

I'm just taking the terrorist slant, because the press and "experts" are in such a rush to say "this certainly looks like it isn't terrorism," while not quite ruling it out.

I agree. I was yelling at the TV earlier today to hear officials saying "It appears to be an accident" when it was clear that they really had no idea, accident or not. That really pisses me off.

[SharpEye]

see my post #96

[copycat]

It was the rudder which came off as the first event, not a wing. The suggestion is an explosion in the tail, with the engines being over-taxed and coming apart...

(Disclaimer:Not that I think this is the facts, hear that mlo...)but this would be consistent with the plane "moving back and forth", as it would have lost its' aileron.

[copycat]

It's earlier than we think.

Touche'

[A Navy Vet]

"The ostriches don't want to believe it yet."

I will take great joy in grouping you with ALOHA RONNIE and other conspiricists when the voice recorder shows a spontaneous engine/mechanical failure with no time to send mayday.
And yes, there is jihad against America. But guess what folks...accidents happen even during said jihad. If I recall, they happened before jihad.

[FourPeas]

Aviate, Communicate, Navagate -- in THAT order. Repeat it after me.

A pilot's first priority is flying the airplane. It can get pretty busy in the cockpit during an emergency. If I remember correctly the A-300 has a crew of 2. With only 4 hands to handle an emergency, it may not have been possible/a priority to get to the radio. Afterall, it doesn't make sense to take the time to declare an in-flight emergency if that means you have to stop working to save the plane.

FP

[Poohbah]

My gut reaction, based on my experience with GE engines (absolute pieces of trash, IMNHO) and Airbus aircraft (more trash), leads me to LEAN (i.e., my first guess) in favor of mechanical failure. GE is to aircraft engines what Firestone is to tires.

[copycat]

Repeat it after me.

Because of your insulting tone, I did not read the rest of your post.

[lds23]

According to callers to WABC Radio NY, fuel smell is all over the place, so early reports of fuel being "dumped" may have been an early attempt to interpret. Latest interpretation is the fuel spill a result of the trouble in the air (e.g., breakup, engine failure,etc.), not a deliberate pilot manoever