I decided that after spending an hour on the phone waiting for Larry King, that the next most vocal and friendly crowd would have to be here on FlyerTalk. So I urge that you send this message on until someone from the US Government acknowledges it.

It was confirmed to me 2 days ago by an airport employee within the US that 2 additional planes were planned for hijacking. The 5th, United Airlines flight 23 from JFK-LAX, and the 6th being a Delta Airlines plane going IAD-LAX.

Now in particular what shocks me is the Delta case. The plane was originally planned to be a 767, but for some reason, the plane was very lightly loaded, and thus Delta swapped it for a 757. What COULD be ironic is that it was so light loaded because some say the hijackers blocked seats so few passengers could fight back. But back to the point, the Delta 767 remained at Dulles, and when searched after the FAA grounding of all aircraft, knives (no confirmation on what type) where found taped beneath seats. NO PASSENGERS had boarded this plane. There are 2 possible explanations for this...

1.) A passenger on the incoming plane (say it went LAX-IAD and then back to LAX) taped them there, OR...

2.) Airport employees were involved.

As we all know, the job of airplane cleaning is not paid very much, and is an easily obtainable job, even with a "shady" background.

Also, AIRLINE EMPLOYEES DO NOT GO THROUGH SECURITY! If the second is true, then all this extra security will do nothing for the issue at hand! They need to go through security, and their knives (if they have them for the jobs) must be cataloged and a location of them must be had before any plane can close!

Finally, as I have horribly learned, there was an attempt to do a similar act many years ago in France. Three men told pilots to fill an A340 with triple the amount of fuel needed to fly, and to crash into the Eiffel Tower on Christmas Eve. The reason it was unsuccessful, they hijackers could not fly. So they learned their lessons, and learned to fly. Now they learned that they need to tell the Captains to pretend everything is all right until the last second, and then swerve. We also need to look out for that.

My biggest concern was that we, the public, never learned about that 6th plane mainly because it could change the investigation around 180 degrees to an INTERNAL investigation! Pass it on, we need employees to go through security too!


----------------------------
Zach
"You Ready...ok...Lets Roll...!" - The Heroes of United Airlines Flight 93

Would you care to name the source (and qualifications) of your information? Otherwise, there is no way to verify its potential veracity.

I saw this report on CNN several days after the original attack.

TW

If you have read all that is going on, you would know they are stepping up the screening of airport employees and they know that is a weak area. As to other flights, I really believe there were others that may or may not be known about and I really do not care if the gov't tells us or not. They did not happen, so move on.

And, if you think the screening that is going on will stop EVERYTHING, stay away from planes. And while you are at it, stay away from tunnels, bridges, malls, schools, ballgames, busy highways, etc.

Also, did you happen to notice that a man rushed the cockpit yesterday, without even a corkscrew?

Other than the flight numbers involved and some of the speculation, I have seen this information reported repeatedly.

Me too, as DL does not fly IAD (or any WAS airport) to LAX as a direct or nonstop flight.

I understand UALover7 is aged 16 or something, so whilst I share a little of his youthful concern, do not feel posting a ream of uncorroborated speculation helps anyone at this time.

I do not believe the alleged case of a plane being hijacked and flown into the Eiffel Tower is anything other than baseless bar-room rumour. Unless someone can post a REAL link to some facts I think it is baloney.

First, I am not saying that I just want to discuss other facts, I am brining this up because if it is true, then it is an internal AND external problem, completly changing the investigation.

Second, I cannot quote the exact source because clearly this was inside information, however of course there were leaks, and I also saw it on CNN. Once I saw it I felt comfortable enough to post.

Third, I do not think that scanning will stop everything, but who does it hurt to scan airport employees and cataloge their potential weapons, such as box cutters, knives, etc. I am not saying that they should not have them, but I think they should be registered per gate, and be located before the closing of doors.

You want a link, heres a link...

http://www.msnbc.com/news/635213.asp

Why would I make up a lie about something like that?

And good to see that someone who is clearly older than me is being mature enough to bring up my age...There are kids younger than you making kinds of money that you will never see. Age means nothing...


Finally, I in no way said that speculation would help. I was saying that if these are true, that it WOULD help to put in place much higher security for airport employees as well as passengers.

EDITED FOR BOLD QUOTE


[This message has been edited by UALover7 (edited 10-09-2001).]

Interesting, but can you confirm the source?

UALover7 (or anyone else),

Could you please post a link to the CNN report on the potential hijackings of the fifth and sixth planes?

While I am glad of this thread and its first post, especially the part that has us wondering if cleaning crews are being checked as well as passengers (they really should be), I think the above really sums it up.

Until we eradicate terrorism from the face of the planet, there is no way we will ever be totally safe.

While we are working on, at least, reducing the evil, I think the question is whether to live your life unmoving, with your seatbelt always on, or to get up, be free from worry, knowing that, along with everything else that can kill you, so can getting on a plane. Of course, the chances are greater that you will die from almost anything else, so there really is no question - I think we should all just unbuckle our seatbelts and relax.

For what it's worth, I haven't heard of specific flight numbers ever, but I did hear at one point of a Delta 767 at ATL being a target. That reporting said it was a flight bound for Europe. I've been looking for more firm info on other Sept 11 flight targets, never have found any.

The rumor, as you refer to it, is on MSNBC.com. It was Air France flight 8969 in 1994. There is an interview with the co-pilot describing the events.

[This message has been edited by Ord26 (edited 10-09-2001).]

I think one significant and scary part of the Air France report is that the 4 hijackers dressed as Airport Officials. Do we have any way of checking similarly dressed people on our planes? Do we know if the Air Marshall is a real one?