[Rokke]

"vertical stabilizers simply don't separate from airplanes in flight."

I guess you've never seen the video of the F-117 losing one of its vertical stabilizers during a fly-by. It was pretty dramatic. As was the fireball when it hit the ground. I'm guessing it must have been a shoebomber.

[kylaka]

The F-117 does not have a vertical stabilizer. The stabilators (partially) separated because of an airframe failure. Very different stuff.

[herkbird]

Aren't F117's made out of plastic instead of metal though? Of course the American Airliner in Queens was an Airbus, wasn't it? You will never catch me flying in no Airbus death trap. I remember when Airbus lost one of their planes at the Paris Air Show back in the 80's. It just flew into the ground for no reason, unless pilot error?