[cardinal4]

As a jumpseater myself I need to immediately dispel the myth that one of the hijackers was in the jumpseat.He may have signed up to use it,but because the load was so light on all the flights that were hijacked that day,the Captain would have the jumpseater sit in the cabin.Most likely in first class.If the hijacker insisted on riding up front all the way to LAX or SFO,it would have aroused suspicion among the crew,I guarantee it.Jumpseating was how certificated airmen like myself got to work,it is rare that a crewmember lives in the city he or she is based.Thanks to 9/11, commuting by using airline reciprocal jumpseat agreements for certificated airmen is very difficult at best.Irresponsible rumor mongering like the hijack/jumpseat one make it very tough on airline employees trying to work.

[Irma]

Thanks for your reply. You make a very good point. Perhaps I was too hasty in questioning potential coincidences I discovered, but I felt compelled to point out facts which I discovered though documented sources which seemed a bit odd to me.

[honway]

Irresponsible rumor mongering like the hijack/jumpseat one make it very tough on airline employees trying to work.

As soon as the cockpit voice recorders from the Pentagon and Pennsylvania crash were recovered and played, the FAA put a system wide halt on jumpseating. I would recommend we all put safety and security ahead of personal convenience. Your "irresponsible rumor mongering" remark is irresponsible. Most people, including pilots, actually live in the same geographic location where they work and consider it a condition of employment. I am certain you are not suggesting that your choice of not living in the city where you are employed is more important than the security of your passengers, but that is how you sound here.