[ElkGroveDan]

I've often wondered about this, and if any of those grounded planes "might have been". I recall a news story from that week, of a west-bound plane that I think landed in St. Louis and five guys disembarked, never to be seen again.

Does anyone else know what happened with any of these stories?

[EggsAckley]

I've been waiting and waiting for news about other planes. I also remember talk on that day about other planes and middle eastern passengers disembarking. But I don't know any more than the little bit I remember. I'd bet money that there were a handful more, and being called back to land is what stopped them.

Remember the two guys on the train in Texas that day? There WAS a little hinting around that THEY might have been in another hijacked plane that was recalled. And of course, the feds just let them go.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Does anyone else know what happened with any of these stories?

I've always believed that we got off lucky on Sept. 11.

The terrorists signed their own death warrants as well as those of Saddam Hussein and militant Islam.

Ask any arab or muslim "if good defeats evil" and then tell them to wait a few years. They might want to reconsider their religious affiliations!!

[clamboat]

I've often wondered about this, and if any of those grounded planes "might have been". I recall a news story from that week, of a west-bound plane that I think landed in St. Louis and five guys disembarked, never to be seen again.

I suspect you are thinking of a real episode, but your conclusion is wrong. There was a plane from Boston, I think, that was grounded in St Louis. There were arabs on board but they didn't disappear. They got off the plane and took a train to their destination which I believe was San Antonio, Texas. They were met by police and FBI at their destination (I don't recall how the FBI was alerted to them) and were arrested when a search of their luggage revealed cash and box cutters and hair dye. There were even rumors that they had shaved their body hair.

They were held without charge for many months and eventualy the FBI cleared them of suspicion. They might have been deported afterward, but I don't think there was any link established to any of the hijackers or any terrorists, despite extensive FBI probes of their finances and phone calls, etc.

See Sources: Texas train suspects not tied to attacks for details.

[honway]

I remember. They had thousands in cash, fake credit cards, box cutters and hair die. They entered a guilty plea to credit card fraud and will walk shortly.

Same story with Moussaoui's OKC roommate that the FBI and Secret Service connected to the OKC bombing and WTC 1993, Menepta will walk in about 5 months after pleading guilty to a weapons charge.

Same with the Muslim terrorists connected to the murder of Katherine Smith(she was burned alive with gasoline in one of the Muslim's car) in the Memphis drivers license scam, they all plead and were released with time served, except the unlicensed plumber Hammad who had a work pass for the WTC days before 9-11.Hammad said he was there working on the sprinkler system for a non existent company called Denko Mechanical. Interestingly, the FEMA report explaining why the towers collapsed concluded a major factor was that the sprinkler systems were disabled. Go figure.
Hammad's sentencing hearing is this month in Memphis, he has been out on bail, I am sure he will show up so he can be released for time served on bail. He never did explain why he needed a TN license since he already had a drivers license.

Meanwhile I hear Martha Stewart maybe looking at some hard time.

[cubreporter]

Well sure. As soon as the planes landed and the passengers deplaned...these individuals walked off just like everyone else into the sunset until next time. We said that from the very beginning that they probably walk off natural and calm or panicky like everyone else asking questions and all that. They are out there and will strike again. We need to get them first. Take Iraq out..Saddam funds these groups while keeping his hands clean.

[snopercod]

Does anyone else know what happened with any of these stories?

It's just too damn bad that FR isn't functionally searchable anymore, isn't it?

[wtc911]

There were stories in the few weeks following 911 that had as many as twelve other flights that had extended professional courtesy to Mid Eastern pilots. This form of courtesy allowed a fellow airline pilot to fly in the cockpit. It is believed that this is also how they got into the cockpit of at least one of the doomed flights. When the FAA shut down everything these other planes were still on the ground. They off loaded and the "guest pilots" melted away before anyone put two and two together.

[lawdog]

Good question. Do you remember the 'grounded plane in San Diego"? They later found stashed "box cutters" hidden in some of the seats!

[piasa]

Here's another peculiar guy investigated in connection with those men who landed in St. Louis and proceeded to Texas by train:

Airport Workers Canned After Security Breach

[piasa]

Of course, here's the contradiction to the previous article I linked for you about the Chicago incident. No Texas Connection to Chicago Arrest