That's a good point.

There were something like eight or ten lamp posts clipped off in the plane's approach...

That brings up a good point for debate. Just what should the government do if a plane is hi-jacked and headed towards killing thousands? I believe we should shoot them down, in fact I insist on it, even if myself or a family member where aboard. I believe this to be the american way and would rather sacrifice my life to save the lives of many others. Our soldiers, firefighters and police believe this as well. Certainly there is a chance that we could shoot down a plane that wasn't aimed at mass killing and the terrorists could even use this strategy against us (force us to kill our own). But let's think about it for a moment, say you're George Bush on the mornig of 9/11, the Pentagon and the Towers have been attacked, a fourth plane is in the sky and fighters have been scrambled from Wright-Patterson or elsewhere, what would you're decision be?

My personal belief is that the PA plane was shot down and the information kept form a population that was already mourning the deaths of thousands, I mourn for the pilot that pulled the trigger and hope he can find inner peace in the fact that his actions probably saved many more lives than where taken. I'd bet in fact that the order was to disable the plane by shooting out at least one engine in the hopes of a crash landing. I don't see this to be a conspiracy theory, just a potential coverup for a potentially necessary action at a time when the american people already had enough to mourn over.

Christian, there's some info here:

http://www.flight93crash.com/

and here:

http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/2001/10/102901_Flight_93.html

and here:

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread73516/pg#pid753726

The last names the supposed 'shoot down' pilot as Maj. Rick Gibney.

I don't doubt for a second that the plane in PA was downed by the military. I have heard this since 9.12.01 or thereabouts from "a guy I worked with at the time who used to be special ops and still had a number of special ops friends"*

*standard snopes disclaimer.

I'm with Christian...while I was driving home from work that morning (towards the Pentagon actually) they were saying how another jet was inbound (actually coming up the Potomac (WTF??)) I recall screaming to noone in particular to shoot it down. Sometimes there is the greater good to think of. It's been too long now, but maybe some face *could* have been saved if the gov't were to own up that they really were able to prevent something further, even if shooting down a plane was the best they could do. :(




A plane, not a missile, hit the Pentagon (see other thread).

While I agree with you, I think we could/should avert this before it happens. Nip it in the bud. Put US Marshalls on every flight originating in the US. If a bum pulls a hijack attempt, capture him. Why give the terrorist a chance to die? Lock his sorry arse in a prison for life with no chance for parole. Prison isn't cheap. $30-40k per year, per inmate, but it's a lot cheaper than shooting a passenger jet from the sky, eh? $30-40k is cheap if bother and sister can still keep mom or dad, eh?
jürgen

I don't think we will see another successful hijacking in the US. Passengers know what is at stake now and won't sit back, so I don't think it's necessary to put marshalls on EVERY flight.

I'm with Neil on this one, I know for certain that if I was on a hijacked plane I'd do my best to stop the terrorists. I'd bet many would help me as well.

Me three. Allah will have to wait another day.

The real question is what would happen if a terrorist took over Kerry's jet???? :D

He'd "bore" them into surrendering.