Hijacker Crashed Flight 93 on 9/11

AP via Yahoo! ^ | 8/7/03 | TED BRIDIS, Associated Press Writer

[Paleo Conservative]

They new that if they did nothing they would be dead,

Correction:
They knew that if they did nothing they would be dead,

[Lancey Howard]

Okay, I think I get it.
Some people would prefer to believe that Steven Seagal and Nicholas Cage tore the cockpit door from its hinges and karate-chopped the hijackers while screaming "Hasta la vista, baby", then frantically grabbed the controls of the plane and flew it into the dirt while all the other passengers rocked back and forth, arm in arm singing a Peter, Paul, and Mary song (accompanied by a nun with a guitar).
But the truth ain't quite like Hollywood, so therefore the passengers were not really heroes. Is that the point of this story?

[SarahW]

What myth? They DID attempt to overtake the hijackers!
They did fight for themselves, and to stop the hijackers from reaching their high-value target (they knew about the trade center and pentagon).

We didn't whether they penetrated the cockpit, or not, only that they died fighting to stop those guys. Heroes, one and all....

[archy]

Thank you. If this theory is correct, I don't get how that diminishes the heroism of the passengers.

It doesn't. Any study of the valourous efforts of those who earned the Medal of Honor will find examples in which the military results hoped for were unsuccessful, or in which eventual overall success in that theater or war was a failure, through no fault of any individidual soldier, sailor or Marine. That does not lessen the valour or merit of their actions, and that's the case with those aboard Flight 93.

They died fighting, not like sheep, and for whatever reason, those in our government are concerned others will follow their example.

-archy-/-

[pepperdog]

My comment didn't sound right even to me! What I meant to say was that the passengers, by their brave actions, caused the plane to crash into the field instead of it's intended target. I still think the whole article is stupid and accomplishes nothing.

[John W]

"My major problem with this theory is that our government appeared so woefully unprepared that day, I think they would have shouted it from the rooftops if they actually managed to take action in a way that saved lives."

Which remains to me one of the absolute mysteries of 9-11.SOPs in place were not followed.Does the report have anything on this aspect buried somewhere in its bowels?

[EllaMinnow]

I've read the article several times, and all I can say is that in my eyes the new scenario does nothing to diminish the heroism of the passengers, it just makes the terrorists seem more cowardly.

From the tone of the article, I don't think the reporter intended that reaction.

[Doe Eyes]

Because the hijackers figured that if the passengers had retaken control of the cabin, they were about to retake control of the cockpit, and the hijackers, chickensh*ts that they were panicked.

Which is the way I read the article. No contradiction. There is a difference between cabin and cockpit.

[PISANO]

Simple, the passengers attempted to take back the aircraft, and in doing so left the frigging Hijackers no choice but to crash the airplane. The important thing to remember is that the TARGET was either the White House or the Capitol Bldg. Heroes ALL no matter the particulars because the MISSION was definitely not accomplished.

[Sacajaweau]

I still say the Capitol....The Capital Mall is a great guide. The White House would be much more difficult to maneuver.

[hopper4]

My sentiments exactly. Also...

Kristy Jackson - Little Did She Know (She Kissed A Hero)

He found some socks
She chose his tie
And when he left for work that morning he was just another guy
Going to work
He'd have to fly
Out to a meeting in L.A. so she had kissed him twice goodbye.

Little did she know she’d kissed a hero
Though he’d always been one in her eyes
But when faced with certain death
He’d said a prayer and took a breath
And led an army of true angels in the sky.

Little did she know she’d kissed a hero
Though he’d always been an angel in her eyes
Putting others first, it’s true
That’s what heroes always do
Now he doesn’t need a pair of wings to fly.

The phone had rung
His voice was calm
Before he could tell her anything she knew something was wrong
I love you so
The last words he’d said
She said I love you too
And then the phone went dead.

Little did she know she’d kissed a hero
Though he’d always been one in her eyes
But when faced with certain death
He’d said a prayer and took a breath
And led an army of true angels in the sky

Little did she know she’d kissed a hero
Though he’d always been an angel in her eyes
Putting others first, it’s true
That’s what heroes always do
Now he doesn’t need a pair of wings to fly.


NEVER FORGET...

[Imperialist]

"U.S. investigators now believe that a hijacker in the cockpit aboard United Airlines Flight 93 instructed terrorist-pilot Ziad Jarrah to crash the jetliner into a Pennsylvania field because of a passenger uprising in the cabin.

This theory, based on the government's analysis of cockpit recordings, discounts the popular perception of insurgent passengers grappling with terrorists to seize the plane's controls

Sentence 2 contradicts sentence 1."(WarrenC)


Exactly. These passengers are heros.

[floriduh voter]

And, Barbara Olson called her husband Ted because she wanted to take action but didn't know what to do. I recall Solicitor Gen. Ted gently told her about the other planes.

I get so mad when the dems attack the President. 9-11 was the start of the War on Terrorism and we were attacked.

Do you notice that dem politicians never talk about September 11? Instead, they criticize a govt that they are part of. They are aiding and abetting the enemy when they go balistic and this administration is serious about preventing another 9-11.

Dubya was going to be the education president but history changed his course. He was in Sarasota with grade schoolers that morning. What a horrible day that was but we will not falter, we will not tire.

[Sacajaweau]

The passengers on Flight 93 are heroes one and all! With our deepest thanks, may you rest peacefully.

[floriduh voter]

The plane crashed into the Pentagon at least the front half which accounts for the loss of life in that section of the Pentagon which was actually new construction. I have Barbara Olson's book The Final Days. Her picture's on the back cover. She warned about terrorism and blamed the Clinton Administration.

[Alberta's Child]

I take it that those on the plane who made cell phone calls and stated the plan to rush the cockpit were in on the conspiracy?

The point is that they weren't successful. Not that it really diminishes anything, but is something I've known for some time now.

[John W]

Defining success how?

[alnick]

I preferred the myth.

Why? In both scenarios, the passengers were fighting heroically against the low life scum who hijacked the plane. In both scenarios, the sick freaks died knowing that their mission would not be successful due to the efforts of the passengers.

[TomB]

The point is that they weren't successful.

So the terrorists were planning to crash into that field?

[BigBobber]

Citing transcripts of the still-secret cockpit recordings, FBI Director Robert Mueller told congressional investigators in a closed briefing last year that, minutes before Flight 93 hit the ground, one of the hijackers "advised Jarrah to crash the plane and end the passengers' attempt to retake the airplane."

I would like to know exactly what the "advise" was. Note that Mueller did not say "fly the plane into the ground". He said "crash the plane".

One of the hijackerrs had a bomb around his waist. This was reported by the passengers in their phone calls.

Perhaps the instruction was to detonate the bomb. This would crash the plane and end the passengers' heroic assault.

Speculation: this information will eventually be confirmed by the government. They still don't want you to know the hijackers had bombs because TSA still cannot keep bombs off planes. Hand searches of luggage will not find bombs and there aren't enough bomb sniffing machines at airports yet. When the travelling public is better protected they will release the complete story of Flight 93.

Also, a few days ago the feds issued a warning about ordinary objects hiding knives and bombs and renewed threats to the air industry.