[Pukka Puck]

In case you didn't notice, the object on 9/11 was not to blow up planes with bombs, but to fly airplanes into important governmental and financial institutions.

I hope this helps.

[BigBobber]

Yes the primary plan was to cause as much damage as possible.

However, they were on a suicide mission. They were not going to come back alive. Before 9-11, nobody knew if you could commandeer multiple planes using only small knives. I think it is very plausible that they had a backup plan to blow up the planes if things went awry.

These were clever and determined people. Strap-on bombs were well within their capability. They told the passengers they had a bomb. The passengers saw the bomb.

Why does it rock your world so much for me to suggest the obvious?