# What would happen if an Al Qaeda flew a jet into the Burj Khalifa tower? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 12, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617 "2010-01-12T03:45:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/1 "2010-01-12T03:45:54Z")
The Burj Khalifa - the new, tallest building in the world that just opened up in Dubai. What if some terrorist group like Al Qaeda, (or maybe Mossad or the Teabaggers or whoever) hijacked a passenger plane and flew it into the tower? What would the reaction be on an international level and on the part of the Muslim world? (It’s not such an outrageous notion in that the tower has to be an abomination to fundamentalist Muslims who find symbols of Western culture abhorrent.) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/2 "2010-01-12T03:52:03Z")
It would fall down. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/3 "2010-01-12T03:53:16Z")
Probably about the same as the response to 9/11, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/4 "2010-01-12T03:57:21Z")
If it was clearly the work of al Qaida, it might cause a serioud rift among various Islamist groups. The rest of the world would already be opposed to any such action. If it was falsely attributed to any Western group, it would be one more move in the constant struggle for propaganda points, with new varieties of “troothers” popping up around the world to debate the issue. If it was accurately attributed to a Western organization, the results would be dependent on how thoroughly the West united to punish the offending entity. There are too many variables to come up with a single what-if scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/5 "2010-01-12T04:04:22Z")
I can guarantee you someone would blame Da Jooz. But then, someone blames Da Jooz for pretty much everything. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/6 "2010-01-12T05:11:50Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Probably about the same as the response to 9/11, I suspect. In the sense of the global reaction, certainly. In the sense of the reaction of the leadership and citizenry of the Emirates, not so much - it’s not as though they have the military strength or international influence to respond quite the same way militarily (well-equipped though their army and air force are). It’s worth noting that the majority of the rank and file of the UAE’s military are foreign-born, which would obviously be something of an issue if it came to war with, say, Yemen or Jordan. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/7 "2010-01-12T05:17:48Z")
Apparently [the builders considered the possibility](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100104/ml-dubai-tallest-building/): > [@](#): > > Developers say they are confident in the safety of the tower, which is nearly twice the height of New York’s Empire State Building. > > Greg Sang, Emaar’s director of projects, said the Burj Khalifa has “refuge floors” at 25 to 30 story intervals that are more fire resistant and have separate air supplies in case of emergency. Its reinforced concrete structure, he said, makes it stronger than steel-frame skyscrapers. > > “A plane won’t be able to slice through the Burj like it did through the steel columns of the World Trade Center,” he said. > > Dubai has not been a target of terrorist attacks or threats that have been made public. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/8 "2010-01-12T05:37:14Z")
I don’t think many people feel the sort of sentimental attachment to the Burj Khalifa that most Americans felt to the twin towers. The numbers of native Dubaians, who might possibly feel some nationalistic pride in it, is miniscule, and the Dubai boom panders almost entirely to the super-rich. The Burj Khalifa is essentially a huge middle finger to the poor, and even the middle class and the comfortably-off of the world. Most people, I think including Americans and Arabs, wouldn’t care or would be secretly rather pleased if it came down. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/9 "2010-01-12T06:12:06Z")
What if _Mossad_ hijacked an airplane and few it into the Burj Khalifa? Well, if I’m correct in thinking that Mossad is Israeli Intelligence, then I could see a new wave of anti-American sentiment from the Muslim world, for the simple reason that the U. S. is an ally of Israel. Or maybe I’m mistaken about Mossad… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/10 "2010-01-12T06:14:30Z")
Why would the Israelis want to antagonize the most progessive Arab society - and an American ally? The UAE, like the other Arab states, doesn’t recognize Israel, but they’re certainly one of the most pro-Israeli (or least anti-Israeli) voices in the GCC, OPEC and the Islamic Conference. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/11 "2010-01-12T06:25:21Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > The UAE, like the other Arab states, doesn’t recognize Israel 😕 I think you’re forgetting Egypt and Jordan, both of which have full diplomatic relations with Israel and both of which are Arab states. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/12 "2010-01-12T06:27:43Z")
I’d be afraid to find out. I’ve spent enough time over there as it is. Let’s not borrow trouble, shall we? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/13 "2010-01-12T07:35:05Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Apparently [the builders considered the possibility](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100104/ml-dubai-tallest-building/): > > “A plane won’t be able to slice through the Burj like it did through the steel columns of the World Trade Center,” he said. The World Trade Center towers fell because the insulation of the metal came off and heat weakened the structures. The buildings would have survived had this not happened. I don’t see anything changing if this happened other than even tighter airline security. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/14 "2010-01-12T10:41:57Z")
> [@Spartydog](#): > > The Burj Khalifa - the new, tallest building in the world that just opened up in Dubai. > > What if some terrorist group like Al Qaeda, (or maybe Mossad or the Teabaggers or whoever) hijacked a passenger plane and flew it into the tower? What would the reaction be on an international level and on the part of the Muslim world? I think that whoever did it, most of the world would be horrified. I’ll leave the longer-term ramifications to more informed minds. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/15 "2010-01-12T14:33:16Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > 😕 I think you’re forgetting Egypt and Jordan, both of which have full diplomatic relations with Israel and both of which are Arab states. Bah. I knew I’d get nitpicked. Most of the Arab states. The point is, if you envision a continuum with the fervently anti-Israel Arab states on the right and the least anti-Israel states on the left, the UAE - and Dubai in particular, since the emirates handle foreign policy individually, to a degree - would be to the left. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/16 "2010-01-12T15:22:35Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Probably about the same as the response to 9/11, I suspect. The US would still be in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Yemen? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/17 "2010-01-12T15:47:43Z")
The tower would be damaged, but not fall down. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/18 "2010-01-12T15:52:33Z")
Bet it’d mess up the plane something fierce. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/19 "2010-01-12T18:19:25Z")
> [@Spartydog](#): > > What if some terrorist group like Al Qaeda, (or maybe Mossad or the Teabaggers or whoever) hijacked a passenger plane and flew it into the tower? What would the reaction be on an international level and on the part of the Muslim world? > [@Tamerlane](#): > > Probably about the same as the response to 9/11, I suspect. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In the sense of the reaction of the leadership and citizenry of the Emirates, not so much - > [@mswas](#): > > The US would still be in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Yemen? _sigh_ C’mon guys - the question wasn’t “what would Dubai do?”, the answer to which would be “not much of significance.” The question was what would be the international reaction and more specifically the reaction of the Muslim world to such an event. The answer ( or my answer ), is that reaction would probably be about the same as to 9/11 - much shock and horror, lots of public condemnation. And maybe a few nutters celebrating here and there. I kinda thought it went without saying that the UAE isn’t really up to invading Yemen, let alone Afghanistan. I know I just turned 42, but do you really think I’m already _that_ senile ;)? ---
**Author:** ![Dick\_Dastardly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@Dick\_Dastardly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dick_Dastardly)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617/20 "2010-01-12T18:32:28Z")
Nothing much would happen. What would they do? Send the mighty UAE army to invade Afghanistan? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-an-al-qaeda-flew-a-jet-into-the-burj-khalifa-tower/524617.md?page=2)