posted on September 29, 2001 05:07:18 AM new
Over the airplane's public-address system came a most incredible announcement from the captain of United Flight 564 as it was about to pull out of the gate at Denver International Airport last Saturday, writes Peter Hannaford, a public-affairs consultant in Washington and former adviser to President Reagan.
"I want to thank you brave folks for coming out today," the pilot began. "We don't have any new instructions from the federal government, so from now on, we're on our own." The passengers listened in total silence. "Sometimes a potential hijacker will announce that he has a bomb. There are no bombs on this aircraft and if someone were to get up and make that claim, don't believe him. If someone were to stand up, brandish something such as a plastic knife and say, 'This is a hijacking' or words to that effect, here is what you should do: "Every one of you should stand up and immediately throw things at that person - pillows, books, magazines, eyeglasses, shoes - anything that will throw him off
balance and distract his attention. If he has a confederate or two, do the same with them. Most important: get a blanket over him, then wrestle him to the floor and keep him there. We'll land the plane at the nearest airport and the authorities will take it from there.
"Remember, there will be one of him and maybe a few confederates, but there are 200 of you. Now, since we're a family for the next few hours, I'll ask you to turn to the person next to you, introduce yourself, tell them a little about yourself and ask them to do the same."
The end of this remarkable speech, Mr. Hannaford says, brought sustained clapping from the passengers.
posted on September 29, 2001 05:45:28 AM new
Hi Muriel, I'd fly with that captain anytime.
It's a pity that planes don't have waste disposal chutes. Just slide a hi-jacker down it and give them a free sky diving lesson!
posted on September 29, 2001 07:19:38 AM new
Now that we know the magnitude of destruction
capable, I thought we should have in flight training classes on how to stop a potential hijack. If there are 4 or 5 hijackers, and 45 people, and we now know the chances are good they want to make a flying bomb, 45 people should be able to take on 4 or 5.
Put the smallest people in front and the biggest in the back and charge all of them. Without a gun they can't fight off all.
The trouble is we do not have any experience in fighting. At least one of the men on the PA flight was a captain of a football team and knew how to tackle and charge a person.
Sounds extreme, but 8 men killing 6000 thousand in 45 minutes is extreme.
