TWA 800: Pilots speak out

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com ^ | May 17, 2003 | Jack Cashill

[joesnuffy]

TWA 800: Pilots speak out

Posted: May 17, 2003 1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

After my most recent trip to Washington last weekend, I have come to one sorry conclusion: The only people who believe that a fuel-tank problem destroyed TWA Flight 800 sit in America's major media newsrooms.

They certainly don't sit in the cockpits of America's airliners. After some 200 radio and TV interviews and a score of live appearances, I have talked to at least 100 airline pilots. Of those, exactly one supported the government thesis.

What follows are some of the unsolicited e-mails I have recently received from pilots and my comments on the same. I have edited them only for length and for spelling. Not all of the pilots agree with James Sanders and me on every point in our book, "First Strike: TWA Flight 800 and the Attack on America," but they uniformly reject the government thesis.

Each of these individuals identified themselves to me. I have chosen, however, to shield their identities lest there be repercussions.

Ex-Air Force combat pilot

I loved the book. I am an ex-Air Force combat pilot, functional check flight pilot and standardization and evaluation pilot. I flew 145 combat missions. From the first announcement of TWA 800 I believed the plane was brought down by a missile. To me the strongest evidence of the government cover-up is the lack of satellite photo releases to back up the claim that there was no missile. No part of the earth is probably more under satellite surveillance than the mid-Atlantic from New York City to Washington, D.C. If the satellite photos backed up the "no missile" theory, the photos would be everywhere.

There are other interesting questions: Why, if it was mechanical failure, was the entire 747 fleet not grounded? While there were corrective mechanical changes, anything this catastrophic would have deserved far more severe reaction. Why has Boeing never protested this conclusion? Anyway, great book.

Retired airline pilot

As a pilot for 33 years, I have flown many of the different Boeing A/C, all with a center tank, many times empty, with the pumps running, and guess what? Nothing happened. Even after the TWA incident when the FAA required checks of the wiring in all Boeing A/C, even when insulation was found missing from wires, even with empty tanks … nothing happened.

None of the pilots or maintenance persons I ever talked with believed that tank explosion was caused by faulty wiring shorting out because the pumps were on with an empty tank.

Retired TWA Pilot and Accident Investigator

The item "Probe's conclusion built on faked interview" is flawed, as is the NTSB conclusions it tries to refute.

First of all, there were not 736 witnesses who saw the missile. There were 736 witness's to the explosion, but only a small fraction, something like 80 or so, saw a streak of some sort. The majority saw no such streak.

Of those who saw the streak, some said it went straight up, a few said it went down from the aircraft, others saw more than one streak, streaks were from several directions. Wire's missile was climbing at a 40 degree angle, etc.

Assuming this "missile" was a heat seeker such as the Stinger which we gave to bin Laden, it would have homed in on the hottest part of the target, the nearest tailpipe, not the fuselage. The aircraft was under climb thrust and putting out a lot of heat.

I don't know what to make of the 3,000 degree climb of the wreckage. The "video" shown alongside this article shows all four engines leaving contrails. At 13,000 degree? Ridiculous.

I don't believe the NTSB conclusions. Of 1,108 B-747s built, only one experienced this problem? Hardly. I think it was a bomb.

When the wreckage of TWA 800 was raised from the bottom and placed on a barge, I noticed the nose section was blown cleanly off. I went around and searched for the wreckage of PAA 103 at Lockerbie. The nose was blown off at the same frame!

PAA was brought down by a bomb. I think that's what happened to TWA 800. BTW, the aircraft was the same one I flew for my ATP rating in September 1972. I knew many of the crew who perished.

Note: Of the 700-plus eyewitnesses that the FBI interviewed, some 270 (FBI's figure) saw streaks of lights ascending or arcing over before the crash. Roughly one-third of those followed the streaks from the horizon. There were many more eyewitnesses who did not share their accounts with the FBI. We too believe it was a bomb, a flying bomb that was exploded somewhere under the plane.

Retired TWA pilot, senior Air Line Pilots Association investigator

Sometime in the late '80s, I was on a flight between JFK and Tel Aviv (TLV). The airplane was a 747-200. During the initial climb out from JFK, a strange rattling and metal-to-metal noise began to emanate from the throttle quadrant.

We ignored the noises as a nuisance and since everything else was normal continued on our way. At about 23,000 feet airplane altitude, the FE announced that he cannot control the cabin.

[Later] the FE announces, "I have a Differential Fault" on generator number 3. ... Not more than 30 seconds elapsed from the GenDiff announcement by the FE when he announces that he now has a GenDiff on generator number 4! We not only have the Virgin Mary in first class but Jesus Christ and the 12 Apostles just showed up.

That did it; we declared an emergency, made a 180 degree turn and headed back to JFK. We were just past Nantucket Island heading for Yarmouth in the Canadian Maritimes when we made the turn and dumped about 160,000 pounds of fuel (the natives of Nantucket can thank our crew for having never sighted a mosquito since that day).

... So we had two 85KVA capable generators, running at about half load, dead short against the wing spar. 170KA is equivalent to 1,700 100-watt bulbs; with four generators online, each was running at about one-half load when the first GenDiff occurred and three-quarters when the second went off. The spar also serves as the front portion of the wing fuel tanks which had much fuel and air.

So after F800, I always asked the question – if a dead short electrical arc of considerable power on a fuel tank did not cause us to blow up, how did static electricity cause the [center wing tank] to go off in F800?

All of the above can be quantified with crew names, airplane number and log book write-ups if necessary. I truly don't know the consequence of a dead short on an airframe. All I know is that I have five crew members who witnessed it.

PS: After the shoddy investigation by the NTSB on TWA F840 in 1979, I never had much respect for the outfit.

PPS: I just finished the book – great job. Thanks on behalf of those friends I lost.

Note: This has been shortened considerably. The pilot's point, however, is clear.

TWA pilot scheduled to fly Flight 800 on July 17

I commend you for the excellent series of articles . … I do hope the prosecutions proceed. There is nothing worse than corruption in our government.

My interest in this is that I should have been the captain of 800 that day. Management used its prerogatives and took the flight for training purposes. I lost many friends and associates on that flight. I had flown that aircraft No. 119 only several days prior to the shoot down. Justice over due. Let the trials begin!

Retired airline pilot

I am totally convinced that an outside source blew up TWA 800. In fact I went live on Fox TV on their 10 p.m. newscast that night and stated that fact. (I am their in-house spokesperson for aviation matters.) We can muster up a number of pilots with thousands of hours and years and years of experience to augment and support your theory. Please contact me if you are interested in us pursuing this any further.

Note: Yes, we are. Our best bet for genuine exposure at this time is for America's pilots to force the issue. If some pilot or pilot's organization is willing to take the lead, we are more than willing to help.

Related offers:

Price slashed on "First Strike: TWA Flight 800 and the Attack on America"! New book by Jack Cashill and James Sanders says government lies upped drama ante for terrorists. From WND Books, available in ShopNetDaily.

Purchase Jack Cashill's stunning documentary video, "Silenced: Flight 800 and the Subversion of Justice" from WorldNetDaily's online store.

"Altered Evidence" from Flight 800 How the Justice Department framed a journalist and his wife. Also available from WorldNetDaily's online store!

[xrp]

The questions I have are:

What altitude was the plane at and what was its airspeed?

The American Stinger missile and the Soviet equivalent, the SA-7. The Stinger has a maximum range of 8000 meters and a ceiling of 10,000 feet. The SA-7 has a maximum range of 4500 meters and a 3000 meter ceiling. The Stinger's warhead is 6.6 pounds. These missiles are designed to take out low flying helicopters, not really high flying jumbo jets.

I would think that something like a jumbo jet would need to be a Standard SM-2 or SM-3 missile from a US Navy ship. Perhaps any former US Army Freepers who know more about the Stinger would be able to post as to whether or not a Stinger could have taken down a jumbo jet at altitude.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

If this was a cover-up by the Clinton administration, even the liberals will tar and feather the bum!

[Mulder]

Now that Bush is in the White House, I'm sure the truth will all come out.

[Marine Inspector]

My father is a retired pilot. 30+ years civilian and 8 years as a Naval Aviator flying jets off carriers.

I asked him about this once.

He stated that if fuel was in the center tank and making the aircraft unbalanced, thus requiring it to be pumped to the wing tanks, the warning buzzer and light would have gone off within 100 feet of take off if not when the front landing gear left the runway.

If the warning buzzer and light did come one when they were supposed to have, why would the pilot wait several minutes and several thousand feet to start the pumps to remove the fuel.

As my father said, the damn buzzers are annoying and you would want to correct the problem ASAP, not wait.

[gitmo]

I think WND's assertion is that this was a Navy missile that was fired at a small plane reportedly laden with explosives. TWA 800 was caught in the explosion of the terrorist plane.

[Cicero]

I can't answer your question in detail, but I read somewhere a few years ago that the Chinese have built a modified Stinger or SAM with longer range than the original. I don't know if this is true, but it's possible. And it's possible that the Arabs could have gotten their hands on one.

[Thommas]

If this was a cover-up by the Clinton administration, even the liberals will tar and feather the bum!

Nope. They will not - they would have to be sane & rational, which then precludes them from being liberal.

[xrp]

TWA 800 had to be at least at 20,000 feet. Do small planes (cropdusters and personal type planes) go that high? Plus, the small plane would have to be in front of TWA 800 and moving at the same speed or slightly faster. Smaller planes typically fly at 300mph or less. Jumbo Jets fly at upwards of 600mph. I don't really see this as plausible, no matter how many pounds of explosives are packed into the small plane -- and you can't pack that many.

[LadyDoc]

I don't know a thing about this, except that if it was the fuel tank, I'm putting my life on the line every time I fly in a 20 year old 747 in the Philippines. Of course, I remember the early 1990's when an interisland airliner "disappeared" without explanation and two weeks later, a bomb went off inside a plane that was late in taking off and was still taxing. SO either way I take my life into my hands when I visit my relatives. (considering how they drive, I'm more frightened in a car than an airliner).

However, One day on Fox, the "green beret" Bevalaqua talking about a different subject (I think it was the missle attempt on an ElAl airline in Kenya last year) mentioned that it had happened before with twa 800. Now, missles have take out airliners before (accidentally and deliberatly, mostly overseas). Later that night, he was discussing the same subject and although they did not ask about what he had said earlier, he pooh poohed the twa 800 missle theory in passing. It makes one wonder if it was a "freudian slip" that he later got the story right.

[yoe]

During an administration of ‘head-in-the-sand' politics when it came to anything like terrorism, it is no wonder that on Bill Clinton’s watch, TWA Flight 800 on July 17, 1996, was covered up with all the investigation gobbly-gook, time and money wasting efforts. Terrorism was running amuck but we were much too busy watching Janet Reno and her terrorist handling of Waco, Ruby Ridge and probably other endeavors from that sick person.

Bill Clinton refused to recognize terrorism while smoozing with Arafat, watching golf or dallying with interns in the Oval Office, OBL was gathering steam and getting ready to do what eventually happened on 9/11. Bill Clinton was an utter failure as a president and as an American. He governed by polls and appeasement, never by decision of what was best for America unless he was wagging the dog over one of his many scandals. And that flag burning, womanizing, lying SOB is still at it today – trying to drub out the most decent, respectable leader, President Bush, with more of his childish out and out lies. Democrats, beware, you are being led by one who by his actions, is determined to bring you down along with your country. Bill Clinton doesn’t like America or anything she stands for. He wants to be Secretary General of the United Nations, a rogue organization that, like Clinton, lives and thrives on other peoples money and woes. IMHO flight 800 was due to terrorism.

[longshadow]

TWA 800 had to be at least at 20,000 feet.

It was at 13,000 ft, doing about 300 knots in a shallow climb, when it came apart.

[NYDave]

Don't count on it pal. Bush has not been forthcoming with what the intellegence community knew before 9/11 and he has hushed up any further inquiries into the Clinton nonsense, including sales of missle technology by Hughes and Lorel to the Chinese. Bush is a breath of fresh air after the stink of Clinton, but he still is a firmly intrenched memeber of the "establishment". I doubt he would want to open up the can of worms that any further pursuit of TWA800, in any official capacity. I think that the government just hope that this will fade out of the Americian conciousness. And, by the way, most people I know are buying the gov. bullsh%t. Most people don't want to believe that the gov. can really be involved in such massive coverups. The think it's all conspiracy silliness.

[mr.pink]

...f it was a "freudian slip" that he later got the story right.

I believe George Stephanoplous also had a similar unfortunate freudian slip some time back, saying "when TWA flight 800 was bombed".

But what would he know anyway? It's not like he was in the WH or anything. ;o)

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[NYDave]

Sorry, Pal. A repost to clean up the typos. My fingers are not obeying my brain, today.

Don't count on it pal. Bush has not been forthcoming with what the intelligence community knew before 9/11 and he has hushed up any further inquiries into the Clinton nonsense, including sales of missle technology by Hughes and Lorel to the Chinese. Bush is a breath of fresh air after the stink of Clinton, but he still is a firmly entrenched member of the "establishment". I doubt he would want to open up the can of worms that any further pursuit of TWA800, in any official capacity, would cause. I think that the government just hopes that this will all fade out of the American consciousness. And, by the way, most people I know are buying the gov. bullsh%t. Most people don't want to believe that the gov. can really be involved in such massive cover-ups. The think it's all conspiracy silliness.

[gitmo]

As Flight 800 climbed toward 13,000 feet, controllers had conversations with seven other planes at about the same time: Virgin Flight 009, Mesa Airlines Flight 5523, Eastwind Flight 507, TWA Flight 900, Alitalia Flight 609, Boston Jet Express Flight 18 and Air France Flight 008.

At 8:30:19, the Boston center had its last communication with the doomed jetliner - instructions to rapidly climb to 15,000 feet to leave a 3,000-foot separation between it and the Jet Express flight. A minute and a half later, the Eastwind flight reported an explosion.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nytwa98-crash115.htmlstory

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I was just about to mention George Stephanoplous' comment. It was interesting.

[LaraCroft]

hee hee.. perfect oxymoron alert.

[buccaneer81]

If this was a cover-up by the Clinton administration, even the liberals will tar and feather the bum!

Nope. After all, the femi-nazis love the bum even though they know he has committed numerous rapes and sundry sexual assaults.