Break-up of airliner is captured on security film

Electronic Telegraph ^ | November 18, 2001 | By Charles Laurence in New York

[Map Kernow]

A National Transport Safety Board official in Washington said evidence was growing that the complete tail section had broken off in flight before the engines, making the jet uncontrollable. He added that there "doesn't appear to have been sabotage in any way".

The theory du jour about the Flight 587 disaster. Interesting how the "evidence" for the NTSB's latest theory is always characterized as "growing" right before they decide to abandon it for a new one.

[tessalu]

Tell us another story.

[NativeNewYorker]

EgyptAir, SwissAir, TWA 800, and now this.

ALL OUT OF JFK AIRPORT.

I know where *I'd* start looking....

[Amelia]

If they don't know why the tail broke off, how do they know there was no sabotage? And what caused the smoke?

[justa-hairyape]

If they don't know why the tail broke off, how do they know there was no sabotage?

They dont. They are telling a white lie that has a 50 % chance of being correct. It either is sabotage or it is not. We now simply cannot expect a federal government agency to have the ability to scientifically investigate a commercial airliner crash. The feds have invested millions in loans to the commercial airline companies. The commercial viability of these loans requires that this incident be something that can be fixed in a short period of time. Sabotage and terrorism cannot be fixed quickly. A set of loose bolts or weak bolts can be fixed in a few weeks.

[Amerigomag]

Some real fantasizing here. The info on the tape already posted on this forum and the plane appeared as a speck (a few pixels) on the tape which was sent off for possible "enhancement".

[Map Kernow]

Some real fantasizing here. The info on the tape already posted on this forum and the plane appeared as a speck (a few pixels) on the tape which was sent off for possible "enhancement".

Seen the tape? I doubt it. I don't think you can extrapolate the way you have from the account here either. Call it "fantasizing" maybe.

[Map Kernow]

Tell us another story.

Tell us what is unfounded in #2. If you know.

[Map Kernow]

PING Note the difference in this account versus the one the Daily News ran yesterday. This one has a trail of black smoke on the video as the aircraft went down. Could be misreporting, or it could be something interesting

[Map Kernow]

Believe me....GE is very interested in making a concrete determination as to the exact cause of the crash

Your point is compelling. Thanks very much for your informative post.

[eno_]

You can use a series of video frames to pull out an image with many times the resolution of a single frame. Mistrust any official source that shows only individual blurry frames.

[Amelia]

They dont. They are telling a white lie that has a 50 % chance of being correct. It either is sabotage or it is not.

JMHO, they are really putting their credibility on the line here. I don't know many people who believe terrorism was not involved here, and for the government to be writing it off as a cause when they admit they don't know the cause is just a little much.

[KSCITYBOY]

That is a very valid point. Don't let the people who see a cover-up or conspiracy in everything bother you too much.

[I'm ALL Right!]

If they don't know why the tail broke off, how do they know there was no sabotage? And what caused the smoke?

Come on, do you really think they are going to admit that there was "sabotage" a week before their busiest holiday of the year? No. I suspect the "investigation" will remain "inconclusive" until after New Year's Day. THEN we MIGHT hear about suspected sabotage...I don't trust anyone to tell us the truth, though. If it was a bomb, it would mean certain bankruptcy for the airlines at this point. The airline industry is such a huge portion of our national income (10%?) that the government has every reason to hide evidence of terrorism, IMHO.

[Joe Boucher]

I know I believe everything the N.T.S.B., F,B,I,and all other government agencies tell us. NOT.Generally if the gubmnt tells us it daylight I'd get my flashlight in working order.

[copycat]

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

FReegards...

[Smokin' Joe]

Lets see....

Lockheed/Martin gets to build the new fighter.....

Airbus falls apart.....

Boeing stays afloat?

[DCPatriot]

"...I can't understand what God's purpose is in all this."

Maybe there isn't one? (a purpose and/or a God)

I suppose we'll all find out eventually, huh?