Teen Suicide Pilot Might Have Targeted Air Force Base, FBI Reports

AP Breaking News ^ | June 19, 2003

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Newly released FBI documents say a 15-year-old boy who stole a plane and crashed it into a skyscraper might have originally targeted MacDill Air Force Base in his suicide mission. An FBI review of Charles Bishop's Internet activity showed the teen sought maps of the base and information about it. He also sent an e-mail to a classmate asking where Central Command was located on the base.

Bishop died on Jan. 5, 2002, when he flew a Cessna stolen from a flight school into the Bank of America building in downtown Tampa. He left a note expressing sympathy for Osama bin Laden.

The FBI report obtained by The Tampa Tribune said agents were initially concerned that Bishop had made contact with "other young people who might have the propensity to carry out an act of terrorism similar to Bishop's."

"To date, this investigation has not provided any indication that Bishop participated in a concerted effort with other individuals," the FBI report said.

During the suicide flight, Bishop briefly flew over the base, but when Coast Guard helicopters tried to intercept him, he veered off and flew a few miles toward downtown. No one else was hurt in the crash.

Bishop's family blames his suicide on the acne drug Accutane and has sued the drug's makers for $70 million. Hoffmann-La Roche has denied any link between its drug and suicide.

Bishop had e-mailed a friend telling him to watch the news for a story about him, the FBI report said.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

That sounds right, but for some reason I also had also associated MacDill with SAC (Strategic Air Command); although I thought that SAC headquarters were at Offutt, AFB in Nebraska.

In any case, for some reason, I associate the two. Now I've confused myself and I'll have to ask my dad for clairification.

[dljordan]

Amen, and don't think the authoritarians in the gubmint aren't listening. They've been whining for years about wanting to change our system to be more like Europes. This means locked up airfields, even more bureaucratic nonsense from a bunch of psycopathic FAA administrators. The government IS NOT YOUR FRIEND! I've been fighting the FAA for the past two years and just can't believe the arrogance and stupidity they display.

[John H K]

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/01/10/TampaBay/Pilot_s_parents_had_t.shtml

Yep, his GREAT-Grandfather was the one that emigrated from Syria in the early part of this century. And again, there basically was no Muslim immigration to the US at that time; it was almost universally Christian.

His GRANDFATHER, Robert Bishara, is the one that doesn't speak any Arabic (but one would presume his father, Charles Bishara, also doesn't either.)

A teenager writing a suicide note that praises Bin Laden doesn't make him a Muslim.

It sounds like someone inspired to get attention with his suicide; prior to 9/11, he likely would have committed suicide in a more mundane way with a more mundane note(parents, interestingly, both attempted suicide at a young age. Father was a small-time hood.)

[Shermy]

I think he was mentally ill. I don't discount a drug reaction too.

[aristeides]

I hadn't focused on the fact in the story that young Bishop has asked a classmate about the location of Central Command on MacDill Air Force Base. CENTCOM was of course Tommy Franks's command, from which both the war in Afghanistan and later the war in Iraq were led.

[GrandMoM]

shame on you, NO AMOUNT OF MONEY CAN REPLACE A CHILD!!!

[snopercod]

I think the govt. is worried about a small plane being loaded with explosives.

And the useful load of a C-150 is?

[floriduh voter]

The kid was arab but changed his name. He was flying over MacDill Air Force Base where they could spot him from the control tower and on radar. He was at Central Command but turned due northeast to fly into a building that I used to temp in.

Maybe he realized there was nothing tall to crash into at Central Command and decided he needed to find a skyscraper instead. That's my theory.

It's lucky for the ATTORNEY who occupied that corner office that he stopped working to grab some lunch. We need all the trial attorneys alive and well so they can donate to Candidate Edwards. Trial attorneys are his base.

[supercat]

They just can't stand freedom - which personal flying represents.

Think King Richard of Chicago might feel the same way?

[SarahW]

http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:7tGKg47xLXAJ:www.madcowprod.com/index15.html+Charles+bishop+bishara&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Despite the slightly hysterical, "LA Confidential" style,
I enjoyed reading this little background piece on Bishop.

Dad might not be so small time, and have waht are now called "Palestinian" sympathies to boot.

[piasa]

Anything coming out of Madcow is about as reliable as if it came out of Havana, Cuba.

[piasa]

Suicide note (I wonder if those Palestinian kids who blow themselves up in Israel leave similar notes? Nah... those kids know there weren't nukes in the '67 war...)

I have prepared this statement in regards to the terrorist acts I am about to commit. First of all, Osama bin Laden is absolutely justified in the terror he has caused on 9-11. He has brought a mighty nation to its knees! God blesses him and the others who helped make September 11th happen. The U.S. will have to face the consequences for its horrific actions against the Palestinian people and Iraqis by its allegiance with the monstrous Israelis--who want nothing short of world domination!

You will pay--God help you--and I will make you pay!

There will be more coming!

Al Qaeda and other organizations have met with me several times to discuss the option of me joining. I didn't.

This is an operation done by me only. I had no other help, although, I am acting on their behalf.

Osama bin Laden is planning on blowing up the Super Bowl with an antiquated nuclear bomb left over from the 1967 Israeli-Syrian war.

[Orion78]

MacDill Air Force Base and Central Command

[SarahW]

He got the names right. :)

[Don Corleone]

I am sure the $70 mil will help them forget their loss.

They would probably forget it for as little as 69.5. Betcha if you check ..they are LIBS>

[Don Corleone]

I am sure the $70 mil will help them forget their loss.

They would probably forget it for as little as 69.5. Betcha if you check ..they are LIBS>

[Don Corleone]

I am sure the $70 mil will help them forget their loss.

They would probably forget it for as little as 69.5. Betcha if you check ..they are LIBS>

[Don Corleone]

I am sure the $70 mil will help them forget their loss.

They would probably forget it for as little as 69.5. Betcha if you check ..they are LIBS>

[Don Corleone]

Stupid Mouse! Sorry!

[Fred Mertz]

CENTCOM was of course Tommy Franks's command, from which both the war in Afghanistan and later the war in Iraq were led.

Correctamundo. We need to backtrack and revisit train derailments while we're at it...based on the latest news I watched tonight on #4's capture.