The Straight Dope

Go Back   Straight Dope Message Board > Main > General Questions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-07-2003, 06:53 PM
dolphinboy dolphinboy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Bigfork, Montana
Posts: 2,239
9/11 Cockpit Transcripts

Does anyone know exactly why the govenment (FBI) refused to release the transcripts from the hijacked 9/11 planes?

I thought it was to protect the victim's families from having to re-live those awful moments, but is that a good reason not to release information that would be of interest to thousands of people?

Was there any another reason given?

Would it somehow jeapardize national security if we knew what these guys said?
__________________
De gustibus non est disputandum

A good friend will help you move. A really good friend will help you move a body.
Reply With Quote
Advertisements  
  #2  
Old 08-07-2003, 08:31 PM
Hail Ants Hail Ants is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: NY USA
Posts: 4,556
It is illegal for FAA investigators to release CVR data from any crash to the public.

From the NTSB's website:

"The CVR recordings are treated differently than the other factual information obtained in an accident investigation. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the verbal communications inside the cockpit, Congress has required that the Safety Board not release any part of a CVR tape recording. Because of this sensitivity, a high degree of security is provided for the CVR tape and its transcript. The content and timing of release of the written transcript are strictly regulated: under federal law, transcripts of pertinent portions of cockpit voice recordings are released at a Safety Board public hearing on the accident or, if no hearing is held, when a majority of the factual reports are made public."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-07-2003, 08:44 PM
jimmmy jimmmy is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Re: 9/11 Cockpit Transcripts

Quote:
Originally posted by dolphinboy
I thought it was to protect the victim's families from having to re-live those awful moments, but is that a good reason not to release information that would be of interest to thousands of people?

This can't be it, they played the tapes for the families of the crew and passengers of Flight 93.
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/04/19/rec...ilies/?related

Quote:
Originally posted by dolphinboy
Was there any another reason given
One other reason given for silence on Flight 93 tapes was that they were expected to be played as evidence in the terrorism conspiracy trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, the man who prosecutors believe may have been the intended fifth hijacker aboard Flight 93

I have to ask what purpose would be served, besides purient interest, to release the tapes publically -- journalsits as check on government veracity and family memebers have all had access - as have those investegators with a need to know.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Send questions for Cecil Adams to: cecil@chicagoreader.com

Send comments about this website to: webmaster@straightdope.com

Terms of Use / Privacy Policy

Advertise on the Straight Dope!
(Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.)

Publishers - interested in subscribing to the Straight Dope?
Write to: sdsubscriptions@chicagoreader.com.

Copyright © 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC.