This from the Website quepasa.com
U.S. officials fear that commercial aircraft from Europe and Latin America will be hijacked and used to attack targets in the United States, a high-level European official said Tuesday."They are concerned about several specific flights -- not just flights from Europe but also from Latin America," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday that U.S. officials had information indicating that "Al-Qaeda seeks to use aircraft as weapons in suicide-type attacks" similar to those carried out on September 11, 2001.
This makes a lot of sense for several reasons:
Al-Qaeda can no longer count on the passengers being compliant during a highjacking, but now have to factor in the near certainty of an uprising and a counter-attack, a policy instituted by the General Militia of Flight 93, and followed without fail on every American aircraft since. You know what I mean: Look around you at the able-bodied American men during the pre-flight instruction the next time you fly. They're exchanging glances, sizing each other up, silently opting in, and forming up the pack. "No shit is going to go down on THIS flight." If you're signing up for a flight, and you're not thinking this, do us a favor and take the bus instead.
So it makes good sense for Al-Qaeda to use Pilot-moles: The passengers won't know of a highjacking until its too late, and the security door will keep the meddling passengers out. Would YOU know if a flight went off course? I wouldn't.
Some have suggested that Aero Mexico or Air France are possible foreign airlines that have been compromised. My vote is for an Air France flight stuffed full of appeasing Phrogs who wouldn't put up a fight: The Latinos may bear no love for the Yanquis, but you do NOT tangle with a people whose "sports" heros are men who get into an arena to fight bulls, whose language is the one from which we get the word "Macho", and whose men supply the operative definition thereof. If I don't have any fellow Americans at my back, a plane full of Latinos, Brits, Aussies, Poles, or Spaniards will do just fine thank you very much.
Mitigating factor: Unless the pilot-mole is on a return flight originating from an Amercian city, an attack after a long international flight will not be as physically devastating. A main factor in the bringing down of the Towers was that the tanks were still full of aviation jet fuel, supplying a greater amount of combustible materials than the fire suppression systems were designed to handle. A long flight would use up most of the fuel. Thus, to get maximum effect, the scenario calls for a foreign aircraft on a return flight that originates from the United States, is piloted by a crew that hasn't been subjected to rigorous security checks, and who makes their move within minutes after taking off.
Another mitigating factor: Unless Al-Qaeda recruited experienced pilots, the policy of all airlines is to put the new trainees as co-pilots on local flights. Even if they started training on 9/12/01, they'd still be earning their spurs and not be assigned to the more prestigious international flights, much less being promoted to captain. Thus, the trainee would have to overpower the captain in order to take over. Think of a puddle-jumper making the Mexico City to Tijuana run being diverted to attack San Diego. Not Los Angeles: That's too far and thus gives too much time for the CAP to bring the plane down.
Hattip Rantburg.
Addendum: Wow! I can't believe I called it right Thanks again to Rantburg