At 12:35 PM -0800 11/1/02, John Kelsey wrote: >At 09:32 PM 10/31/02 -0800, Tim May wrote: >... >>If the attackers/hijackers cannot get into the cockpit and gain control >>of the plane, then the most they can do with disabling/lethal/nerve >>gases is to cause the plane to essentially crash randomly...which kills >>a few hundred people, but probably not many more. >> >>Which is yet another reason why securing the cockpit door very, very >>well is the single most important, and cheapest, solution. > >Hmmm. I agree, but if the attackers chose the right time (while the >plane's on autopilot) to release the gas or whatever, they might have an >hour or two to get through the cockpit door, with no resistance at all from >the now-dead passengers or crew.
I expect that in most cases, ATC would be concerned about no contact for an hour. In the modern age, that might be enough to scramble a fighter to go up and take a look. (A number of years ago, there was a case where a pilot, presumably asleep, flew right past Los Angles, over the Pacific ocean, and crashed. ATC was very concerned, but couldn't do anything to wake the pilot.) Cheers - Bill ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Frantz | The principal effect of| Periwinkle -- Consulting (408)356-8506 | DMCA/SDMI is to prevent| 16345 Englewood Ave. [EMAIL PROTECTED] | fair use. | Los Gatos, CA 95032, USA
