Not just the big guys. I’m a little short squirt of a woman but I’d have a go at a hijacker, too. The way some of these people discount women they’d probably never suspect one of fighting back. Might have an element of surprise that would let me take one out while they’re “dealing with” the six-foot rugby players.
If attempts to use airlines as bombs result in the hijackers dead and their mission incomplete then they will stop doing this.
On the other hand - they’ll look for some other way to hurt us. Or maybe just start killing all the passengers prior to taking the controls.
Would it be possible to simply open the emergency door on the plane ? Would the change in air pressure suck everyone not belted in out of the plane ?
The problem with a terrorist on the plane is that you do not want to jeopordize the entire plane if the hijaker is simply going to land the plane and make demands. That would by my first instinct if I were on a hijaked plane. If it become obvious that I was going to die, then I would certainly take whatever action I could. Otherwise I’d be inclined to wait it out.
No. The hatches open inward before they open outward. This is so the pressurization of the cabin pushes them against their seals, creating a stronger, better seal. Also, who would open the emergency exits? They are secured and opened manually.
Just to confirm Johnny L.A.'s correct answer and affirm that the fight to eradicate ignorance never takes a break, Cecil Adams on airplane doors at altitude.
And tsunamisurfer, I consider you to be one of the casualties of Tuesday’s attacks. I mourn your loss.
If you do some reading on whether torture is actually effective (it’s not), you may come to change your mind. And with time, maybe your heart, too. I’d like that, and I’d be the first to welcome you back to the world of civilized human beings.
[used my moderator superpowers to fix the link. -manhattan]
I’m cool, Capacitor, but since I’ve been slammed by a moderator, let me clarify my position on torture of terrorists.
Let’s say our Special Forces soon invade a terrorist camp and discover chemical/biological warfare agents inside the compound (which has already happened, BTW). Let’s also say that a couple of terrorists are caught, yet refuse to disclose anything about means of delivery or timetable.
If it’s clear that these weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are going to be used against innocent Americans, then I have ZERO problem torturing captives to make them talk. The clock is ticking. Playing by the rules may cause catastrophic damage to our nation.
I am saddened but convinced that, in less than 10 years, untold tens of thousands of Americans will perish or be permanently crippled due to WMD’s, such as anthrax, small pox, nerve has and possibly nuclear weapons. It will wreak havoc on our economy, our domestic security, and our precious civil liberties.
There was an airline pilot on TV yesterday that, among other things, said that wearing seatbelts is strongly advised. He said words to the effect that, if he knew a hijacker was trying to enter the cockpit, there were things they could do to “throw the airplane all over the sky.” They could even depressurize the cabin.
I wonder…what would happen to a DC-10 doing an Immelmann?
How about if they cut power and nosed over so it was like the Vomit Comet…everyone weightless?
Can you imagine being a passenger on the flight, and the tale you’d have to tell afterwards?
If news sources are correct regarding the plane that crashed near Pittsburg, only three (3) passengers are believed to have confronted the hijackers. Three unarmed men against 5-6 armed men are bad odds, especially considering the innocents were hearded into the back and would have had to run all the way to the front–in the open.
I might also add that one of the passengers in the back of the plane had left his/her telephone on during the entire episode, and the listener on the other end later said s/he could hear the crowd scream once, followed by a pause, followed by another long mass scream that s/he described as sounding like people plunging down a roller coaster ride. After another pause, the phone went dead.
We understand that this is a difficult and traumatic time for everyone, most of all those that had this horror happen directly to them, like our dear friend Manhattan.
Anyone that would insult and harass him – or anyone else – during this time is truly insensitive and maybe even a little cruel.
While we may serve in some way as a sounding board, a place to talk things out, we never want to be a place where people exchange ignorance and rattle sabers.
tsunamisurfer, you been way out of line here. I’m fully prepared to throw your sorry self out. Give me a reason not to.
Please accept my apologies for my intemperate remarks to you after you called me a terrorist and suggested I am not part of the human race after I had previously said that torture of terrorists should not be ruled out (in extreme cases). I feel such pain for the people in NY that I cannot describe it. I am a lover of life and people. But when terrorists threaten this country, I believe they should be dealt with harshly. Again, my apologies.
To my great shock and dismay, I just learned last night from TUBADIVA that you were in the middle of the disaster that struck NYC, lost several friends, and personally witnessed the tragic events unfold.
May I again offer my humblest apologies and extend my most heartfelt condolences. I had no idea. I now pray that you and your loved ones somehow recover from this horrible ordeal.
But please consider what I was saying (if not the tone in which I said it).
This war isn’t about landmark buildings, or lost friends, or bombing this target or that one in retaliation, or even about catching those responsible (although we must do that).
This war is about us. The very idea of a civilized society and a civilized people was attacked and badly injured last week.
Please don’t lose this war for yourself before we’ve even begun to fight. Torture is what the North Vietnamese did to our POW’s. Torture is what guys like them do to guys like us. Not the other way around.
Please spend some time on the Amnesty International page or some similar place. You will learn that not only is torture wrong for civilized people, it doesn’t even work!
We’ll get our vengeance. We’ll make those who lack the moral backbone not to engage in terror at least fear the consequences. But we’ll do it in a way that we can be proud of.