posted 09-14-2001 00:23           

I realize, this may have some downsides that I haven't thought about. I have been drinking .

Why not reinstate the sky marshalls in EVERY domestic and international flight?

Though this will definitely place on a financial strain on the airline industry, a small government subsidization would surely ease the burden.

For people who can't figure it out by themselves, Sky Marshalls are armed guards placed upon airline flights, occassionally even within a bulletproof compartment.

posted 09-14-2001 06:43           

(I'm an EMT in NJ, NY, and PA, as well as teach CPR, so I know what I'm talking about). Person has chest pains, within 2 minutes of having chest pains, the guy is STILL talking mind-you. The flight attendants have already pulled out the defibrillator. (which is used on UNCONSCIOUS, NONbreathing people)... Blazin' Idiots I tell you. Training them in combat would be a joke.

Now.... US marshalls on every flight? I'd like to see that. I truly would, give them low velocity weapons like El Al. Hey, <200 bucks to go from New York to California and back is unreasonably LOW. I'd pay more for "guaranteed" safety. I have (in the past) always taken my pocket knife on planes because I carry it all the time, I knew it was legal and the hijackers did not "breech" security, whatever knives they had were probably legal. (3" - 4" max depending on airline, 4" per FAA, 3" per airlines like Northwest.. I knew the rules) What are people eating meals supposed to do on a plane now? Eat with a stinkin' plastic spork? A cellphone battery, all metal could easily conceal a metal knife... You can't stop knives.

I think our airplanes need serious revisions as well. Hey, I'm not trying to seem heartless here, but losing 160-200 passengers over a hijacking gone wrong sure as hell beats 10,000+ dead. That's 50-100 planes worth of people! Better lose one planeload over steering a plane into other buildings, or sporting events.

Example:
Pilot's gotta take a leak, regardless of how strong the door is, pilot must exit cockpit. We need a second door BEHIND the bathroom to protect them. Real doors.

We have truly been lucky as a country for the past 10+ years of zero hijackings....

posted 09-14-2001 12:53            

The average shoe could conceal a detacheable blade, and the slightly oversized fob of the person's keychain could in actuality be the handle. A few seconds later, he has a 4" blade.

I think the real solution is more of a detainment situation. There was an editorial type article in the paper today, where the author said (in so many words) that if he was ever on a flight that was hijacked, he would consider himself good as dead... and while he may indeed die trying to subdue the hijackers, he knew that those behind him would eventually succeed.

3 to 5 men armed with knives simply CAN'T control 80 people who don't want to be cowed.

Ultimately, Americans are going to have to realize that they simply CAN'T rely on others for protection anymore. I could use this as a stepping stone to launch into a tirade on why banning handguns and the like is a bad idea, but I won't. Those of you with any intelligence can imagine the things I would say.

Anyway... We need to realize that no matter what precautions we take, people WILL get on board planes with the intention of hijacking it... what then? Preventative measures are fine, but recovery needs to be addressed as well.

posted 09-14-2001 14:03            

Now, we've already experienced the hijacking plane bomb scenario.

So, I think that the next terrorist attack won't be another plane bomb.

The airports are going to be really tight, and someone who knows what they're doing aren't going to walk into that kind of situation.

So, what we have to watch out for right now I think, is other means of mass destruction and mass killing. Busses filled with fertilizer and C4.

Men with bombs strapped to there chests walking into buildings could actually be something that we need to fear now.

And, hopefully not, I think we have to be weary of missile attacks in the near future if a war should start, and other countries get involved.

The United States will seriously never be the same. We have to be painstakingly careful. We always need to look over our shoulder. Everytime we're on a plane, bus, car, or even cashing a check we have to be worried.