TWA 800: Breaking -- Air Traffic Controller Tells All

American Thinker ^ | 6-13-16 | Jack Cashill

[Lockbox]

As I hoped would happen, American Thinker’s series on TWA Flight 800 has prompted individuals with first hand knowledge to come forward. “Mark Johnson” is one. An air traffic controller (ATC), he worked the night of July 17, 1996 -- the night TWA Flight 800 was destroyed -- at the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) located in Westbury, New York.

Johnson has provided me with his real name, and I have confirmed that he was in a position to know what he says he knows. He requested that I use an alias because he has children who depend on him. The federal government, he believes, “will seek revenge, retribution and/or any other remedy they feel like. I would be fearful my pension would be at risk.” I have heard this sentiment voiced by many people involved in this incident.

Although Johnson was not responsible for tracking TWA Flight 800, he spoke directly with the ATC who did. In fact, he asked him “plenty of questions to prepare myself for the ‘suits’ who were beginning to arrive.” Along with several other ATCs, he viewed the radar tape of the incident. According to Johnson, “A primary radar return (ASR-9) indicated vertical movement intersecting TWA 800.”

An advanced radar system, the Northrop Grumman ASR-9 is able to detect a “target” in severe clutter even when the target has no transponder. The absence of a transponder is what distinguishes a “primary radar return” from a “secondary” one. In others words, the radar picked up a small, unidentified, ascending object intersecting TWA 800 in the second before the 747 “disappeared from radar.”

[rsobin]

“Explain how radar can discriminate the energy of an explosion please.”

It can and it does it with doppler readings.

[wyowolf]

agreed... too many people to keep that kind of secret...

[Jane Long]

Ping!!

[RayChuang88]

This is why I still wonder did the terrorists get their hands on the Russian 9K33 Osa (NATO code name SA-8 Gecko) SAM system and jury-rigged a SAM launcher (complete with radar) that could fit into a larger pleasure boat? Remember, the Soviets supplied a large number of 9K33 systems to Soviet client states in the Middle East during the late 1970's to early 1980's and many of them may have ended up in terrorist hands.

The 9K33 system could certainly shoot down TWA Flight 800, given the maximum engagement altitude of the missile is nearly 40,000 feet; that puts it well within the range of the 747 at the time it exploded.

[I am Richard Brandon]

"there were dozens if not a hundred photos of the event."

So - where are they? Every single one grabbed by the Feds?

[Batman11]

PFL

[Alberta's Child]

I have read plenty of very intelligent and informed Freepers who have speculated on a number of possible scenarios involving TWA Flight 800.

I don't know any more about the facts of this case than anyone else, but the scenario that makes the most sense (given the chain of events before and after the incident) was an accidental downing by a foreign vessel involved in NATO exercises off the south shore of Long Island that night.

[Toespi]

I’m sure this has been asked and answered. But did the government have information that the plane was hijacked and ready to go jihad?

[3D-JOY]

Thanks, will come back later to see if anything is added.

[PMAS]

*

[Alberta's Child]

The best argument against a terrorist attack with a surface-to-air missile is that the incident took place way too far east for a terrorist to have any confidence in the ability of a missile to strike a passenger jet flying that high.

This scenario would have made a lot more sense if this had occurred much further west -- closer to JFK Airport in New York City where Flight 800 departed.

[B212]

OK, I will try.....radar can measure the speed of an object, and direction, the aircraft was flying at a known speed, an object from the explosion, would have an initial velocity of the aircraft and the impacted speed of the explosive device....that info would lead to the mathematics indicating size and energy of the explosion...

[Alberta's Child]

That is another very plausible scenario.

I have insisted for the last 15 years that 9/11 would have been written off by the government as a technical malfunction or some other kind of "accident" if it had only involved a single aircraft crashing into the World Trade Center.

[aragorn]

Back at the time the speculation was an errant missile from a U.S. Navy ship conducting exercises in the area that night.

Yes, I recall that. I further recall that Michael Rivero was roundly and soundly criticized and eventually zotted for his analysis of this event, and accused of being somehow against the Navy and the US Armed Forces, though all he did was make an analysis.

I have it on very good authority that other friendly-fire shootdowns of friendly assets have taken place, and that the crews of the initiating assets involved have been threatened, sworn to secrecy and monitored. Thus, I have no difficulty believing that such is possible.

A man can be threatened with injury or death only to receive a "bring it, and bring a lunch" response. However, if it is made clear to the same man that he cannot hope to protect his wife/children/loved ones 24x7, and that the threatening parties have the intel and capacity to carry out their threats, well, that is a much different story, is it not?

It makes me wonder just who was on board that flight. I believe that this aircraft was not targeted randomly.

[GBA]

It will be good for all when the TWA Flt 800's truth is finally made public.

One truth will lead to another and another and, with a little Divine Luck and Fate's assistance, soon we'll have an avalanche of long-suppressed truth that no one can stop.

[stormer]

Correct.

[Moonman62]

According to the NTSB report the radar in question did not record altitude data. There was one military radar in the area with modified software that could estimate altitude with a margin of error of thousands of feet. Therefore this article is a lot of hogwash as are all the other conspiracy articles about TWA 800.

http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR0003.pdf

[RayChuang88]

I'd agree if that involved a MANPAD. But what if they had access to the hardware of the much more advanced 9K33 Osa SAM system, which can engage planes flying at nearly 40,000 feet altitude? If that's the case, the terrorists could easily have brought down TWA Flight 800.

[Snowybear]

Assuming they are still alive.

[DrDude]

Haven’t heard a word from the survivors from Benghazi. Money and power(threats) can make anything work.