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I have no doubt that it went seriously out of control (if there were any degree of control whatsoever, they wouldn't have let it crash on land); I would just like to stomp on the notion that the plane was seeking the U.N. to crash into.

The terrorists would never attack the U.N., IMO. It's the most anti-American slice of real estate in the hemisphere. All their damned buddies are in there.

Airbus A.300 - Accident History

Airbus A.300

1st flight: 1972

Series: B4-200, -600, -600R

2 jet engines

max. 375 passengers

507 built

prod. ended: still in production

Relevant Airbus A.300 safety related information on the internet:
Airbus A.300 emergency exit information

Relevant Airbus A.300 safety related news:

20 OCT 2001 A Tunisair cabin crew member fell to her death when she opened the door of Airbus Airbus A300-605R TS-IPB at Djerba. A steward who also fell from the plane was seriously injured. Possible incomplete depressurization is being investigated. (ASN) A.300 incident November 20, 2000

17 OCT 2001 A PIA Airbus A.300 ran off the runway at Dubai when the right hand maingear collapsed on landing. Some injuries among 205 occupants. (Gulf News) ASN Incident Description

26 JUN 2001 The UK AAIB released a Special Bulletin regarding a May 18, 2001 incident in which Monarch Airways Airbus A.300 G-MONS suffered an uncontained failure of the No. 2 engine Low Pressure Turbine, causing minor impact damage to wing skin panels and inboard aileron. A safe precautionary landing was carried out at Faro. (AAIB Special Bulletin)

18 JUN 2001 Japan Air System (JAS) was ordered to complete within two weeks checks of its 17 Airbus A.300 planes for possible corrosion of rear pressure bulkheads; JAS has already inspected four of the planes without finding any failures. (Kyodo News)

I doubt this was a takeover attempt like 9/11 usually they would wait for the plane to gain altitude before trying to gain control. However if they were aware of the constant presence of US fighter planes on patrol they might try to take over quickly to avoid a shootdown.

As far as the UN being the target, that can't really be stated with any certainty. There are still about 70 of the worlds tallest 150 buildings in Manhattan and anyone could be a target.

The terrorists would never attack the U.N., IMO. It's the most anti-American slice of real estate in the hemisphere. All their damned buddies are in there.

bin Laden sure didn't sound aware of that when he criticized the UN.