Posted on 12/26/2009 8:11:25 PM PST by HokieMom
DETROIT (AP) -- They heard a pop that sounded like fireworks. They saw a glow of flame followed by a rush of smoke. And that was enough for passengers on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to pounce.
From several seats away, Dutch tourist Jasper Schuringa says he jumped to extinguish a fire ignited by a quiet man who just moments before allegedly told passengers his stomach was upset and pulled a blanket over himself. Schuringa said his first thought wasn't to signal a flight attendant or wait for an air marshal to break cover, but rather, "He's trying to blow up the plane."
"I basically reacted directly," Schuringa said Saturday in an interview with CNN. "I didn't think. I just jumped. I just went over there and tried to save the plane."
Aviation safety experts once would have called Schuringa's actions a mistake and cautioned passengers against fighting back during hijackings and other crises in the air. That was before the Sept. 11 attacks and the actions of passengers on United Flight 93, who learned while aloft about the hijacked jets that slammed earlier that day into New York's World Trade Center.
They staged a cabin revolt against the al-Qaida terrorists who had taken control of their flight and died when their plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa. But they succeeded in keeping the jet from destroying another building that day, and their story became legend.
"I don't think people are going to sit back and let somebody kill them in the process of fulfilling their extremist agenda or whatever it happens to be," said Dave Heffernan, who helps oversee self-defense training for commercial flight crews at Valenica Community College in Orlando, Fla. "People have talked about it. They've thought about it. They have a plan of action."
(Excerpt) Read more at 630wmal.com ...
The failure of our wonderful bureaucratic government is so alarming that it really scares me not just about flying but about the health care system to come. Not even talking about the other bureaucratic nightmares that have occurred and are still occurring - think Fannie and Freddie (and of course our old friend (All poor people should own a home) - Barny Franks)... Yeah, I say let our spasmodic officials control all aspects of our lives...Let’s just get it over with!
Watched both Democrat and Republican senators on Greta’s show - what a load of bull crap! They can’t even pull themselves away from their own self-importance to recognize the problems Greta was trying to discuss.
There could not have been more signs pointing to “terrorist” than this case but hey, these wonderful senators will investigate! Not needed, the airlines have decided that you can not get up during the last hour of flight and darn it, no more blankets for you! Ha, sometimes industry spouts off just like our beloved government. Idiots all!
Me too. You better bet the next time this happens, there will be another hero to stand up and take the terrorist out too. You can’t rely on the airline employees. They’re the ones letting the terrorist bastards on the plane because they don’t “profile,” remember?
You wait, you lose. People know this.
/s
If I’m on one of these planes, I’m going for a HARD KILL on the scumbag!
BTTT
Ironically, new security restrictions will require passengers to remain in their seats for the last hour of the flight. This would thwart the sort of heroism shown in aborting the recent attack. Instead of the shoes, drinks, etc. airport shenanigans, TSA should adopt Israeli-style Threat Profiling.
Actually I was just curious about what happened to the program. Wasn’t there supposed to be one on every flight?
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Excellent potlatch -
Those are my exact sentiments...I too do not wish to answer to the Lord for something as egregious as that. As a caller stated earlier this evening on the Mark Levin Show, this Administration is a disaster.
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