Sandi
A proud Spartans fan.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 1999
- Messages
- 6,025
I found this Washington Times article interesting and helpful. Maybe you will, too.
September 19, 2001 Washington Times
Aboard Flight 564
Peter Hannaford
As it was at most U.S. airports, last Saturday was the first
near-normal day at Denver International since the terrorist attacks. On
United's Flight 564 the door had just been locked and the plane was about to
pull out of the gate when the captain came on the public address system.
"I want to thank you brave folks for coming out today. 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.
He explained that airport security measures had pretty much solved the
problem of firearms being carried aboard, but not weapons of the type the
terrorists apparently used, plastic knives or those fashioned from wood or
ceramics.
"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 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. You can overwhelm them.
"The Declaration of Independence says 'We, the people' and that's just
what it is when we're up in the air: we, the people, vs. would-be
terrorists. I don't think we are going to have any such problem today or
tomorrow or for a while, but some time down the road, it is going to happen
again and I want you to know what to do.
"Now, since we're a family for the new 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 brought sustained clapping from the
passengers. He had put the matter in perspective. If only the passengers on
those ill-fated flights last Tuesday had been given the same talk, I
thought, they might be alive today. One group on United Flight 93, which
crashed in a Pennsylvania field, apparently rushed the hijackers in an
attempt to wrest control from them. While they perished, they succeeded in
preventing the terrorist from attacking his intended goal, possibly the
White House or the Capitol.
Procedures for dealing with hijackers were conceived in a time when the
hijackers were usually seeking the release of jailed comrades or a large
amount of money. Mass murder was not their goal. That short talk last
Saturday by the pilot of Flight 564 should set a new standard of realism.
Every passenger should learn the simple * but potentially life-saving *
procedure he outlined. He showed his passengers that a hijacking does not
have to result in hopelessness and terror, but victory over the
perpetrators.
The Airline Pilots Association, the pilots' union, last week dropped
its opposition to stronger cockpit doors and is now calling for retrofits.
(It's opposition was based on pilot concerns about getting out easily in
emergency situations.) The scandal of easily penetrated airport security
will result in congressional calls for a federal takeover of the security
system.
Previous efforts to reform security procedures and raise standards have
been talked to death. This time, however, no lobbying efforts must be
allowed to prevent airport security from getting the reforms that are
needed: federal operation, rigorous training, decent pay and no foreign
nationals eligible for employment.
Peter Hannaford is a public affairs consultant.
September 19, 2001 Washington Times
Aboard Flight 564
Peter Hannaford
As it was at most U.S. airports, last Saturday was the first
near-normal day at Denver International since the terrorist attacks. On
United's Flight 564 the door had just been locked and the plane was about to
pull out of the gate when the captain came on the public address system.
"I want to thank you brave folks for coming out today. 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.
He explained that airport security measures had pretty much solved the
problem of firearms being carried aboard, but not weapons of the type the
terrorists apparently used, plastic knives or those fashioned from wood or
ceramics.
"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 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. You can overwhelm them.
"The Declaration of Independence says 'We, the people' and that's just
what it is when we're up in the air: we, the people, vs. would-be
terrorists. I don't think we are going to have any such problem today or
tomorrow or for a while, but some time down the road, it is going to happen
again and I want you to know what to do.
"Now, since we're a family for the new 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 brought sustained clapping from the
passengers. He had put the matter in perspective. If only the passengers on
those ill-fated flights last Tuesday had been given the same talk, I
thought, they might be alive today. One group on United Flight 93, which
crashed in a Pennsylvania field, apparently rushed the hijackers in an
attempt to wrest control from them. While they perished, they succeeded in
preventing the terrorist from attacking his intended goal, possibly the
White House or the Capitol.
Procedures for dealing with hijackers were conceived in a time when the
hijackers were usually seeking the release of jailed comrades or a large
amount of money. Mass murder was not their goal. That short talk last
Saturday by the pilot of Flight 564 should set a new standard of realism.
Every passenger should learn the simple * but potentially life-saving *
procedure he outlined. He showed his passengers that a hijacking does not
have to result in hopelessness and terror, but victory over the
perpetrators.
The Airline Pilots Association, the pilots' union, last week dropped
its opposition to stronger cockpit doors and is now calling for retrofits.
(It's opposition was based on pilot concerns about getting out easily in
emergency situations.) The scandal of easily penetrated airport security
will result in congressional calls for a federal takeover of the security
system.
Previous efforts to reform security procedures and raise standards have
been talked to death. This time, however, no lobbying efforts must be
allowed to prevent airport security from getting the reforms that are
needed: federal operation, rigorous training, decent pay and no foreign
nationals eligible for employment.
Peter Hannaford is a public affairs consultant.
