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).]