Fox news just released a story that on at least one of the 4 hijacked planes, there was a Middle East named pilot INSIDE the cockpit on the pilots jumpseat BEFORE the plane took off! Common practice to invite pilots from other carriers to ride up front. And even more shocking, they also said that there were MULTIPLE ( I recall the number quoted as 3-6)pilot jumpseat riders with Middle East names on OTHER planes that landed due to the complete stoppage of all air flights. Those people are still being sought. I have believed that there must have been more than 4 hijackings planned or underway - just too lucky for all 4 attempts to be successes! Lets see how this story unfolds.

I have a dear friend who is a Pakistani-American who probably has logged more time in a 737 than just about any other pilot and has trained many commercial 737 pilots flying for U.S. carriers today. I couldn't feel safer to know he was piloting plane I was flying in. People with Middle Eastern names in the cockpit does not equate with terrorists in the cockpit.

Additionally, in the U.S. no one is allowed cockpit access unless they have proper FAA credentials - either they are a licensed commercial airline pilot in the U.S. or work for the FAA in ATC or as inspectors. From what I've read of the hijackers' flying experience, none of them would have even come close to meeting the requirements.

Given this so-called story, it's just as likely to jumpt to an entirely different conclusion ... that a person of Middle Eastern heritage sitting in the cockpit may have unknowingly foiled a hijack attempt, as hijackers may have been unprepared to deal with three people in the cockpit.



[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 09-24-2001).]

I think the report stated the story is linked to the stolen airline credentials and uniforms which allowed access to the jump seats.