[Husker24]

Not to many places can handle a 747....besides he has to F-16's on his tail.....they'll smoke him he aims that bird toward a target.....he better not even deviate one inch.

I would imagine he would need an order directly from the president to blow up a jetliner, they would have to be absolutely sure. Could you imagine the consequences of Blowing a plane out of the sky and find out it was for nothing. Maybe the president has delegated his authority to a general in the Air Force or something, i dont know, but I think it would take a while before the order would be given.

[Dog]

There was a NORAD general after 9/11 who had the authority to do it I don't know if that is still in effect.

[Joe Anybody]

I'm suprised that communications aren't encrypted...

[Yaelle]

I just realized that they would want the plane over sea if they had to blow it up for any reason. How horrible.

[dawn53]

I thought after 9/11 that there was some "arrangement" made concerning shooting down of civilian planes if they are deemed to be a threat. Don't really remember the details, but remember hearing it discussed.

[Quix]

I have a fuzzy recollection that that is NOT the case.

It seems to me there was some doc after 9/11 that

that particular decision

had been pushed down the chain of command significantly to insure timeliness in a repeat situation.

I could be wrong.

[Finalapproach29er]

Pres. has delegated authority to a two-star general if there is no time to contact him.