Attempted hijack of United Airlines flight to Argentina...
February 7, 2002 9:18 AM   Subscribe

Attempted hijack of United Airlines flight to Argentina...
A passenger was seized by cabin crew today as he attempted to enter the cockpit on an American Airlines flight from the US to Argentina today...
I don't think this is anything al-Quaida related, but I thought it was worth the post.
posted by tomcosgrave (12 comments total)
 
I just like CNN's front-page teaser at the moment... UNRULY PASSENGER SUBDUED WITH AX.

And let that be a lesson to you!
posted by Sapphireblue at 9:24 AM on February 7, 2002


I don't think this is anything al-Quaida related, but I thought it was worth the post..

Right, because you know we're only supposed to post al-Quaida related material to the front page! Shame on you. This is WTCfilter after all.
posted by signal at 9:40 AM on February 7, 2002


Power to the people!
posted by aacheson at 9:54 AM on February 7, 2002


"I faced an individual who was basically kicking the door of the cockpit in sort of a kung-fu style," Boyer said. "I said, 'What are you doing?' And he said, 'I want to talk to the captain.'

How about knocking?
posted by kahboom at 9:55 AM on February 7, 2002


The copilot, identified as "L. Borden"...
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:01 AM on February 7, 2002


Right, because you know we're only supposed to post al-Quaida related material to the front page! Shame on you.

Actually no, I said that because I didn't want to to sound alarmist about it and make out like it was an Al-Quaida thing, but I thought it was worth posting anyway.
posted by tomcosgrave at 10:26 AM on February 7, 2002


And there we have proof, once again, that there is no airline security. It's all a big bullshit performance that is supposed to fool all us passengers into thinking that throwing away our nail files is going to keep us safe.

In fact, they could strip us naked and walk us onto the plane, and it still wouldn't be safe: not only could someone know a martial art and be far more dangerous than most of us could ever be even with a knife, there's bound to be some fool with a log of C4 explosive stuffed up his bum.

I do so wish the airlines would quit hassling everyone that's going through security. It's just insulting.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:57 AM on February 7, 2002


To paraphrase Tyler Durden, the appearance of saftey is more important than actual saftey. Calm as Hindu cows...

On the flipside though, the pilot and passenger reaction shows that no one will ever be able to control a jet with a significant population of innocents. They will rise up, even sacrificing their lives to make sure you don't do anything dastardly with the plane. Hey, if you are dead anyway take the fuckers down.
posted by McBain at 11:45 AM on February 7, 2002


Beaned with an ax. That will leave a mark.
posted by NortonDC at 11:58 AM on February 7, 2002


Wow. WTF is an ax doing on a plane anyway? I am impressed.
posted by adampsyche at 12:11 PM on February 7, 2002


The ax is in the cockpit so that the pilot and crew can chop their way out if they crash and survive. However, they obviously don't need it since you can apparently kick the security door open rather easily.

Installing real secure cockpit doors and requiring them to be locked during flight is the ONLY security measure that can reliably prevent a plane being taken over. Not only that but it is relatively inexpensive and a minor inconvienence.

Call your political representative and demand an explanation of why it isn't required by law.

P.S. Don't accept "Because I don't have to fly commercial" as a response
posted by srboisvert at 1:17 PM on February 7, 2002


I think the guy's lucky he just got clubbed, and not axed with the blade. You've gotta be some kind of moron to run that gig in this day and age.
posted by Irontom at 6:30 AM on February 8, 2002


« Older   |   Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments