Patali: Pilot of AA flight dumped fuel prior to crash, in (likely) response to mechanical failures

Gov. Pataki | 11/12/01 | WABC Radio

[Steven W.]

Gov. Pataki is reporting that the pilot of the ill-fated American Airlines flight dumped most of the airplane's fuel over Jamaica Bay, anticipating a crash landing and most likely indicating a trained response to onboard mechanical failures.

[NixNatAVanG InDaBurgh]

> If I remember correctly, ALL cockpit doors have been retro-fitted to keep intruders out of the cockpit. Also, the tower received no reports of problems (I think I heard this today). Keep in mind that this happened within (4?) minutes of takeoff. They were still climbing, and it seems a VERY short amount of time for a hijacker to announce himself, gain access to the cockpit, kill the pilot, and gain the controls.

Once again:
Less than a week ago, it was reported that an American Airlines Pilot's Uniform, containing a pilot's license, and KEYS to the cockpit, were stolen from his parked car in the Newark Airport parking lot.

[Smogger]

I said: I suspect most people with brains in their heads will error on the side of caution with me and stay off of planes as well.

You said: If they have a choice of course. Which is exactly what the terrorists want. "Let's all go hide under the bed until the big bad boogeyman goes away." We can choose to let them intimidate us, or we can get in their faces with out and out defiance. We get to choose. Do we wear panties or don't we? That's our choice

I think that I can be defiant on the ground.

[ontos-on]

Wouldn't you be dumping fuel if right after takeoff, you realized you would have to make emeregency landing? Landing with full fuel would be problematic.

[OldFriend]

See what you get for tuning in to CNN!!!!!!!!!!

[OrioleFan]

The Klintons are the turd that won't flush.

Entirely due to the Al Gore inspired low-flow toilets.

[Cachelot]

there is no fuel dumping capability in the Airbus 300-600. If there is fuel in the bay, it probably came from a rupured tank.

The wing was in the bay. There's your fuel.

[TheRealLobo]

You said:"A fifty caliber rifle which can hit a 3' circle at 2,000 yards would be able to hit the 12' diameter jet intake at a mile with no problem."

A NON-MOVING 3' circle at 2000 yards.

[bjs1779]

A fifty caliber rifle which can hit a 3' circle at 2,000 yards would be able to hit the 12' diameter jet intake at a mile with no problem.

Sounds like the same "rightwing" group that spread the anthrax around. Now we have a leed.....

[concerned about politics]

Landing with full fuel would be problematic.

Yeh, but according to previous posts, the Airbus 300-600 has no fuel dumping capacity. They would HAVE to land with a full tank.

[RightWingConspirator]

And I'm sure that Hitlery can find some reason to blame the Exxon Valdez debacle on President Bush's tax cut!

[BlueHorseShoe]

"...See what you get for tuning in to CNN!!!!!!!!!!..."

Yes, I know, I'm the bad girl!

[goodnesswins]

"Four minutes is an awfully short time to develop "mechanical troubles" AND dump fuel. JMHO."

THOSE 4 minutes are the FOUR MINUTES I HATE when I fly - taking off....holding breath....

My prayers to the families of these crash victims, and any victims on the ground.

[Travis McGee]

A jet engine at the starting end of the runway coming directly toward the shooter would have virtually no relative motion, it would just appear to grow in size.

Easy shot.

[nicmarlo]

FYI: Thought this might be of interest to you. Was posted on another site: eyewitness "Ken" transcribed

the engine was making weird sounds, so we stopped the boat and we were back by the engine and I heard a popping sound...not like a a a I cant even say it was an explosion, it was more like a pop and then like a whishing sound and then part of the wing came off.

***
That plane as soon as its tail came off it just bellied up and went straight down, so yah know people saying yah know the engine came off, but that came off after the fact. Now as far as explosion, something was happening over the bay, something made the wing shatter and took of the tail. and uh the way I seen it , it still looked like it had its engines on as it was going down.

[Robert Lomax]

I saw Hitlery on the tube also. She started to say that Chelsea was in the area that day jogging and...then she stuttered a little and said that Chelsea used to jog in the area and that Chelsea was doing find in England.

[TheRealLobo]

You said:"Once again:
Less than a week ago, it was reported that an American Airlines Pilot's Uniform, containing a pilot's license, and KEYS to the cockpit, were stolen from his parked car in the Newark Airport parking lot."

Once again:
Let's see if the person who checked in at JFK to fly this plane to Santo Domingo (or wherever) was the one it was supposed to be. If there was a sudden change in plans or pilots, then we need to consider this, otherwise, it means NOTHING in this instance.

[Travis McGee]

Nobody thought that box cutters could destroy the Worle Trade Centers and kill 5,000, until it was done.

[OldFriend]

At least we can laugh....through our tears.