FBI: Explosion Aboard Airbus

CNN | 11/12/01

[dep]

CNN quotes the White House, to wit: The FBI believes there was an explosion aboard the American Airlines A-300 which crashed this morning in Queens, NY. They are investigating in an attempt to learn the source of the explosion.

[demsux]

I'm guessing a Stinger missile.

[Patria One]

The plane was supposed to take off at 8 AM and was delayed an hour while they checked out possible engine trouble.

[Flyer]

( or go but a car)

OW! That hurts!

[BlackbirdSST]

4th Amendment mean anything to you? Blackbird.

[The Raven]

It wasn't too long ago the Airbus was in the news....I found this from last May.

------------------

LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - Airlines must alter thrust reversers on Airbus A300 airliners to ensure they do not deploy in flight, an occurrence that could easily destroy the plane, the European aircraft manufacturer said on Wednesday.

Aviation regulators had required an extra safety mechanism after reviewing an 1998 incident in which a thrust reverser, which helps the brakes to stop the plane on landing, deployed in flight, an Airbus spokeswoman said. The Korean Air plane landed safely.

``The incident led us to take immediate precautionary measures at the time, to recommend that airlines not use the thrust reversers,'' she said.

The Airbus spokeswoman said that even before the latest fix, the A300 had had two mechanisms designed to prevent unintended thrust-reverser operation.

Major A300 customers have included United Parcel Service Inc., FedEx Corp., AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and Thai Airways International Plc.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Neither did the smartest woman in the world, the b*tch. They are a perfect match.

:-)

[sayfer bullets]

What's your definition of "just slightly"?

I wasn't expecting exactly THIS reaction to my sarcastic exaggeration, but if it floats your boat...

Thanks for pointing out my perceptive shortcomings.

[lds23]

Either terrorist or "only" mechanical failure, this will spike consumer confidence in air travel. Stocks are down broadly (but have come up off early lows). Hardest hit seem to be airlines, Disney, GE, Honeywell (just from a quick scan, mind you).

I would expect the terrorist angle to be downplayed until definitive proof exists one way or the other, in order not to further spook markets and consumers.

Lest I forget, prayers out to the lost souls and their families.

[Gargantua]

"...let the professionals do their jobs and when they come out with their findings..."

...then we can laugh like we did at the NTSB explanation of TWA 800. And cringe at the FBI "investigation" into that debacle, where dozens of eyewitnesses were prohibited from testifying at the televised NTSB "hearing."

Surely you jest. Professionals, my ass.

[kevin]

"The fires aren't even out yet and we have the amature "Accident Investigation Board" here on this site digging bunkers in their backyards, sand bagging their porches, and breaking out their tin-foil hats. Before you folks start rumor mongering, why don't you let the professionals do their jobs and when they come out with their findings, then you can talk about that! GEEZ! Gimme a break!

Damn, you're right!! Remember how they explained OKC and Colombine? Waco and Ruby Ridge ring a bell? Vince Foster, Jim MacDougal? How about those network professionals who told us G.W. lost the election in Florida at 4:00 P.M.?

So, wait for the professionals, they lay it all out real clean for ya!!

True indoctrinated system dude.

[Jean B]

Can't we reinstate Michael Rivero just for a few days? I have to admit that his paranoia and conspiracy theories were entertaining.

[Kate_Malloy]

A minute and a half later seems to me that the plane would have crashed by then! Planes travel clear out of view in a min. and a half!
As for the sound coming after she witnessed the engine falling, sound travel would have been delayed it. In my mind this account may be skewed somewhat.

[marshmallow]

The thing that makes me think that this may not be terrorist related is that the explosion occured shortly after takeoff. The vast majority of catastrophic engine and structural failures occur at this time when the plane is climbing on full power. Had the explosion occured at cruising altitude, I'd be much more suspicious.

Had this occured before 9/11, the general reaction would have been "how tragic". As it is, there appears to be almost universal consensus that this was a Bin Laden job. 9/11 has completely undermined the common sense and mental equilibrium of most. Now tell me again who's winning the war?

[Nocturno]

I love that flag!!

By the way...

Can you tell me, since you seem to know, What exactly would a stinger track on?

Where would it hit, and how much of the wing would it remove as it impacted on the source of heat?

Can you say stinger?

[floriduh voter]

"A bomb placed at the junction of the wing and fuselage would cause the wing and engine to fall seperate from the rest of the plane." Exactly what I was thinking. Thanks to affirmative action, exactly how many sleepers were on the ground crews? JFK was criticized recently about their lax security. I have heard that huge chunks of the plane were falling from the sky before the engine fell off. Maybe the engine falling off was not the cause which has been overdone, but a result.

[sayfer bullets]

Well, not quite, although you may be saying this tongue in cheek...

I did not have the exact figures in my head, but knew the difference was beyond substantial. In that kind of case the exact numbers really shouldn't be necessary. Without time to look it up I (indirectly) called on the best of FR. I assumed someone with more knowledge or recall could make my point with illustration.

You are correct. It is, ....and I was. Thanks. Just slightly!

[Jerez]

I hope that what is changed is the way-too-polite attitude toward Muslims. I hope every one of them is required to be checked out and issued a clearance certificate; without said certificate they are not allowed to board a plane or work near any potentially sensitive targets (airports, power plants, schools, etc.). I hope this triggers the sedition laws to be put into place. I hope a lot of things are changed by this incident -- things that I do not think of as loss of freedoms for US citizens, but sensible precautions for our country.

There is every possibility that this was caused by a Stinger -- the plane was low enough to be in range of a small SAM, unlike Flight 800. For anyone to immediately write this off as 'just a terrible accident' is ludicrous. Reminds me of the reaction after the first anthrax incident in Florida. I had a bad feeling about that, which proved correct. 'We won't be fooled again!'