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"Is this real-world or exercise?" asked the incredulous NEADS officer.

"No, this is not an exercise, not a test," the FAA responded.

I kind of find this strange.No code for hijacked aircraft? Just a "No,this is not and exercise or test".

So, if a terrorist wanted to have planes shot down,they could hijack a control tower and call someone to say planes had been hijacked.In turn,jets would be scrambled and shoot them down? (Sounds like good makings for a book or movie)

I hope someone is thinking about this,because if I can come up with that scenario,I'm sure someone else could.

I kind of find this strange.No code for hijacked aircraft? Just a "No,this is not and exercise or test".

"Air raid Pearl Harbor! This is no drill!"

I guess not much has changed since 12/7/41

It is very typical of security. The only security involved is the identity of the approriate number to call.

Very much like the phone company. Phone phreaks would find out the right internal phone numbers and could do almost anything in the phone system since it was assumed that only people with legitimate business would have the right number.

So, if a terrorist wanted to have planes shot down,they could hijack a control tower and call someone to say planes had been hijacked.In turn,jets would be scrambled and shoot them down? (Sounds like good makings for a book or movie)

That would in now way get a plane shot down. First of all that plane would be in contact with more things than just one tower. If planes came to intercept it they could easily be in radio contact. Also any given tower is handling a lot more traffic than one plane so the terrorist would have a hell of a time faking that it was 'business as usual' there. The terrorist would have more luck trying to steal a fighter then selves than to try and convince the entire chain of command that a perfectly normal plane needs to be shot down. If they wanted to kill a bunch of people by taking over a tower they could just do it at night and direct planes into air-to-air collision or on-runway collision. Still, it would be easier to... never mind, I am done thinking up ideas for them. There are many many ways to cause destruction. It amazes me that the media loves to point them out for the terrorists.