T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
---|
760.1 | | MOLAR::DELBALSO | I (spade) my (dogface) | Thu Jul 18 1996 03:20 | 6 |
| -< Memorable Quotes >-
"Flying is the safest way to fly."
- Shelley Berman
|
760.2 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 03:25 | 5 |
| re: "We can't discuss security issues."
The only thing which could make a 747 explode with no warning is a bomb.
OK, an unlucky encounter with a large meteor, maybe.
|
760.3 | Corrected number on board: 212 passengers plus crew of 17 | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 03:29 | 5 |
| This surpasses the previous most deadly airline accident in U.S. history:
the 1979 crash on takeoff from O'Hare of an American Airlines DC-10 due
to faulty engine bolts. Only 273 died in that crash.
/john
|
760.4 | How can something so ugly be so pretty? | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 03:31 | 5 |
| Oh, wow.
Someone managed to videotape the flaming aluminum shower.
|
760.5 | | THEMAX::SMITH_S | jest 'cause | Thu Jul 18 1996 03:53 | 1 |
| Is CNN showing details?
|
760.6 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | Evil Ed | Thu Jul 18 1996 03:54 | 2 |
| What sort of terrorist group would target a flight from New York
to Paris?
|
760.7 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 03:55 | 4 |
| The video is not flaming aluminum showers, but rather search and rescue
boats around the crash site.
/john
|
760.8 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 03:57 | 9 |
| re .6 "what sort of terrorist group"
Any sort.
There are any number of groups that have threatened that as long as U.S.
foreign policy remains hostile to their politics, Americans will not be
safe anywhere in the world.
/john
|
760.9 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | Evil Ed | Thu Jul 18 1996 04:03 | 2 |
| We can only hope that this isn't the start of a wave of attacks
tied to the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
|
760.10 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 04:10 | 5 |
|
The aircraft had arrived from Athens three hours before takeoff.
(Flight 800 originated at LAX, but there was a change of aircraft at JFK.)
|
760.11 | | THEMAX::SMITH_S | jest 'cause | Thu Jul 18 1996 04:34 | 1 |
| Can't we all just hit a bong..er..get along
|
760.12 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | Evil Ed | Thu Jul 18 1996 04:41 | 1 |
| Athens, huh? That's mighty coincidental.....
|
760.13 | | 42333::LESLIE | Andy *^* Leslie | Thu Jul 18 1996 08:24 | 11 |
| The BBC reported the toll as 229, not 281.
Two witnesses reported *two* explosions, one minor, followed by a
major.
A spokesman, when asked if there were any survivors from an 8,000 ft
high explosion, di not hit the questioner, merely replying "we think
this unlikely".
a
|
760.14 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Thu Jul 18 1996 09:50 | 10 |
|
Once again all of the local newsreaders are transformed into aviation/aero-
nautical experts..amazing some of the things these people say.
Jim
|
760.15 | | BIGQ::SILVA | I'm out, therefore I am | Thu Jul 18 1996 11:26 | 13 |
|
I watched part of nightline last night and they were talking with a
women who was real close to it all. She said there was an explosion, then a big
fireball all the way down to the water. Then 5 more explosions. Just the
thought of all that happening is scary to even think about. Just what was going
through the people's minds if they were alive, etc.
I stopped watching Nightline when Ted asked the woman if she thought
there would be any survivors. Yeah.... she knows the answer to that question...
Glen
|
760.16 | if not terror then... | SMURF::WALTERS | | Thu Jul 18 1996 12:10 | 12 |
| According to a former NTSB officer interviewed by NPR, the engine
explosion recently experienced by Delta might have a similar effect
if it happened in flight. The 'plane would disintegrate.
TWA is emerging from a long period of losses, it's fleet is the oldest
(average 'plane age >18yrs) in the industry. Although this is highly
suspicious right now, it might also turn out to be due to shoddy
maintenance.
I assume all are agreed that we'd send terrorists to ol' sparky. Will
it be the same for some airline executive who would play fast and loose
with public safety just for the sake of making a buck?
|
760.17 | | 42333::LESLIE | Andy *^* Leslie | Thu Jul 18 1996 12:12 | 1 |
| That's called "corporate manslaughter" in the UK.
|
760.18 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 12:13 | 228 |
| PLANE AGE NUMBER
Air 21
F28 14.3 3
Air Alaska
B-1900 6.7 2
Air L.A.
Metro 2.6 1
Air Midwest
B-1900 3.3 15
Air South
B-737 21.8 8
Airtran Airways
B-737 19.9 10
Alaska Airlines
B-737 6.3 30
DC-9 7.4 44
Allegheny Comuter Airlines
DHC-8 5.3 36
Aloha Airlines
B-737 13.8 15
Aloha Islandair
DHC-8 9.0 3
America West Airlines
B-737 11.3 60
B-757 9.5 14
American Airlines
A-300 6.7 35
B-727 19.2 73
B-757 4.4 86
B-767 7.3 71
DC-10 12.7 35
C-9 8.1 260
F28 3.3 75
Arizona Airways
B-1900 7.3 5
Atlantic Southeast Airlines
ATR-42 2.8 12
MB-120 7.1 63
Atlas Air
B-747 18.1 13
Big Sky Airlines
Metro 16.9 3
Business Express
B-1900 8.9 20
Saab-340 6.3 37
Capitol Air Express
B-727 27.3 2
Carnival Airlines
B-727 14.6 1
CCAir
DHC-8 5.8 4
Challenge Air Cargo
B-757 5.9 3
Chautauqua Airlines
Metro 9.7 8
Saab-340 8.8 12
Colgan Air
B-1900 6.6 6
Comair
EMB-120 5.6 40
Metro 9.1 8
Saab-340 10.0 16
Commutair
B-1900 2.8 30
Conquest Airlines
Metro 11.4 8
Continental Air Lines
ATR-42 4.4 1
B-727 19.7 32
B-737 11.6 127
B-757 1.4 16
DC-10 19.7 16
DC-9 15.2 96
Continental Express
ATR-42 6.3 41
B-1900 .7 14
EMB-120 6.8 32
Metro 17.7 1
Delta Air Lines
B-727 19.2 131
B-737 11.3 67
B-757 7.3 86
B-767 7.9 57
DC-10 3.7 11
DC-9 5.5 131
Desert Sun Airlines
F28 1.2 2
Eastwind Airlines
B-737 26.2 2
Era Aviation Inc.
DHC-8 6.8 2
Executive Airlines
ATR-42 7.7 11
Express Airlines
Saab-340 8.2 37
Flagship Airlines
ATR-42 5.0 10
Saab-340 4.9 46
Floridagulf Airlines
B-1900 2.3 23
EMB-120 5.4 9
Frontier Airlines
B-737 22.4 7
GP-Express Airlines
B-1900 8.4 20
Grand Airways
Metro 14.9 1
Great Lakes Aviation
B-1900 5.0 32
EMB-120 4.9 12
Gulfstream International
B-1900 11.3 19
Hawaiian Airlines
DC-10 23.6 8
DC-9 18.8 13
Horizon Airlines
DHC-8 7.8 23
F28 22.3 10
Metro 10.2 25
Jettrain
DC-9 28.2 2
Kiwi International Airlines
B-727 22.6 16
Liberty Express
B-1900 3.3 9
Lone Star Airlines
Metro 6.1 6
Mahalo Air
ATR-42 5.2 6
Markair Express
B-1900 6.2 4
Mesa Airlines
B-1900 3.0 68
DHC-8 4.3 4
EMB-120 4.2 10
Mesaba Airlines
DHC-8 3.7 25
Metro 7.9 27
Midstate Airlines
Metro 15.1 2
Midway Airlines
F28 3.2 12
Midwest Express Airlines
DC-9 23.5 22
Mountain West Airlines
B-1900 .8 9
Nations Air Express
B-737 27.6 2
North American Airlines
B-757 3.8 2
DC-9 5.2 1
Northern Star Airlines
B-1900 .8 2
Northwest Airlines
B-727 17.2 45
B-747 15.2 41
B-757 8.5 38
DC-10 22.0 34
DC-9 25.3 181
Peninsula Airways
Metro 8.7 6
Piedmont Airlines
DHC-8 6.7 45
Polar Air Cargo
B-747 25.8 12
Presidential Air
B-727 18.8 1
Prestige Airways
B-727 25.4 3
Reeve Aleutian Airways
B-727 29.7 2
Reno Air
DC-9 5.4 23
Simmons Airlines
ATR-42 4.4 58
Saab-340 4.1 40
Skyway Airlines
B-1900 1.9 15
Skywest Airlines
EMB-120 4.3 34
Metro 9.0 24
Southwest Airlines
B-737 8.0 229
Sun Country Airlines
B-727 15.5 1
Sun Jet International
DC-9 21.3 6
Sunworld International
B-727 20.3 1
Tower Air
B-747 23.2 20
Trans States Airlines
ATR-42 6.3 11
EMB-120 9.7 2
Metro 14.2 2
Trans World Airlines
B-727 22.2 40
B-747 25.5 11
B-767 11.4 15
DC-9 17.8 107
United Air Lines
B-727 17.2 74
B-737 11.4 226
B-747 13.4 49
B-757 4.5 88
B-767 8.3 42
DC-10 19.7 34
USAir
B-737 9.9 203
B-757 5.6 34
B-767 7.3 9
DC-9 19.8 94
F28 7.0 54
USAir Shuttle
B-727 25.0 11
ValuJet Airlines
DC-9 25.7 49
Vanguard Airlines
B-737 22.7 8
Westair Commuter Airlines
EMB-120 7.2 21
Western Pacific Airlines
B-737 9.8 14
Wings West Airlines
Saab-340 3.5 36
1 -- DC-9s and MD-80s are counted as one type of plane, as are F28s and F100s.
Source: Back Associates
|
760.19 | just say no to hurtling deathtraps... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Thu Jul 18 1996 12:36 | 8 |
|
They have 400 Coast Guard guys searching. They've got some pieces
of aluminum and 50-70 bodies burned "beyond recognition". What they
are REALLY looking for, however, is "the box". Whether it was a
bomb can almost certainly be definitively determined if they find it.
bb
|
760.20 | | GAVEL::JANDROW | i think, therefore i have a headache | Thu Jul 18 1996 12:46 | 12 |
|
i had heard there were 229 people on board. according to the base
note, there were 32 crew members on the plane...why were there so many
crew members on board??? i have never been on a flight where there was
more than 10 members, including perhaps off-duty members flying along
for the ride...
anyway, this is a horrible thing. terrorism hasn't been ruled out.
i'd rather it be poor maintenance of the plane than an attack...i just
hope it was an accident...
|
760.21 | Which is worse | KERNEL::FREKES | Excuse me while I scratch my butt | Thu Jul 18 1996 12:59 | 7 |
| re:.20
I am not too sure which would be worse. Knowing that there are people
out there plotting to down the planes of major international
airlines. Or that the Airlines are flying outdated planes, that are
endangering our lives anyway.
|
760.22 | | 42333::LESLIE | Andy *^* Leslie | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:11 | 1 |
| The plan was a 747 100, which were, I believe, superceded in 1976.
|
760.23 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:17 | 6 |
| >i have never been on a flight where there was more than 10 members
The corrected number of crew is 17: 3 in the cockpit plus 14 flight
attendants, all on duty.
/john
|
760.24 | Kind of begs the question.. | KERNEL::FREKES | Excuse me while I scratch my butt | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:24 | 12 |
| > The plan was a 747 100, which were, I believe, superceded in 1976.
Someone needs to ask a few questions here.
* If they were superseded in 1976, what on earth are they still in
service.
* Who made these decisions.
If I was a shareholder, I would certainly be seeking these answers.
|
760.25 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:47 | 3 |
| .24:
I s'pose you trade your car in when the new model comes out?
|
760.26 | A friend in DC just bought a 30-year-old Beech Musketeer | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:49 | 8 |
| > * If they were superseded in 1976, what on earth are they still in
> service.
Planes generally remain in service for at least 30-50 years after they
are superseded. All 747-100s built are still in service, except for
those very few that have had some sort of mishap.
/john
|
760.27 | | BIGQ::SILVA | I'm out, therefore I am | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:49 | 8 |
|
Let's just say it was terrorists. You know the security will be greater
now. Why would it be any less? Why does it take an accident to make people do
something, and then a couple of months later they go back to the old ways?
Glen
|
760.28 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:51 | 2 |
| Judging from John's list of fleet ages, TWA has the oldest 747's. That's
excluding Polar Air Cargo.
|
760.29 | Sec Trans in deep doo-doo if it was plastic | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:53 | 7 |
|
Long ago Congress "mandated" the fancy security machines that
can detect plastique explosives, to be installed in US airports
by 1993. Apparently, this was NOT done in NY, as too expensive,
and the FAA let it slide. Expect more Congressional FAA hearings.
bb
|
760.30 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 13:57 | 13 |
| The former Inspector General of the FAA was interviewed by Howdy Doody
last night; she indicated that she had left after submitting a report
on security, and would not indicate whether it was positive or negative,
since the FAA had not decided whether to release it.
However, she did talk about her previous report, which indicated that
the FAA had been ignoring the 1990 law because "the machines are not
foolproof, and are very expensive."
Families of the PA 103 victims have been intensely lobbying Congress
and the FAA to do something about this.
/john
|
760.31 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | we upped our standards now up yours | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:06 | 9 |
| Some airline security consultant on the radio this morning was saying
that there really is no way to stop a determined terrorist who wants to
blow up a plane if s/he doesn't mind going down with it. There are
more ways to conceal explosives than there are to find them.
But he also said that blowing up planes is not nearly as popular with
terrorists as it once used to be, and no group has yet claimed
responsibility, so it is way premature to assume terrorism in this
case.
|
760.32 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:18 | 1 |
| He's not Howdy Doody. He's Alfred E. Newman.
|
760.33 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:21 | 1 |
| There's a diff?
|
760.34 | I doubt it was anything other than an accident | KERNEL::FREKES | Excuse me while I scratch my butt | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:27 | 18 |
| >I s'pose you trade your car in when the new model comes out?
No, but I know how old my car is, and I know when it needs a repair.
You as a passenger do not know how old the Aeroplane is. My car is only
carrying myself, and 3 other passengers. Not in excess of 200.
Passengers are paying for a service. It is up too the airlines to
ensure that there planes are fit for service. No way how you look it,
old planes should not be flown. If they are being used in service then
they should pass the necessary safety checks. If it had passed the
safety checks, then I think these will need looking at.
I would have to agree with, the idea that terrorism was not involved.
What political gains could be achieved from this. And most terrorists
like to brag about there exploits. If no-one has yet claimed
responsibility, then I doubt that it was anything other than an
accident.
|
760.35 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:31 | 3 |
| No terrorist group ever claimed responsibility for PA 103.
/john
|
760.36 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:31 | 17 |
| .31
> There are
> more ways to conceal explosives than there are to find them.
For example, conceal some Semtex or C-4 in a battery for a laptop
computer. Some laptops have two battery compartments; stick the
doctored battery in one of these. Now insist that the laptop be
hand-inspected instead of run through the X-ray/sniffer machine. You
can power the laptop up and run it just fine on one battery.
If you really want to be cute, you can even set the laptop up with an
extra wire or two such that it will detonate the bomb at a specified
time. This would be particularly useful when you don't want to be
blown up with the plane - get on in Boston, bound for Paris via New
York, and get off in New York after concealing the laptop against the
outer wall of one of the restrooms.
|
760.37 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:34 | 14 |
| >Now insist that the laptop be hand-inspected instead of run through the
>X-ray/sniffer machine.
1. We don't have sniffer machines in the U.S., it seems.
2. In most of Europe, you _will_not_get_through_security_ with anything
which does not go through the machine. I had some extra time at
Gatwick last month, and attempted to insist that my Newton be hand
inspected. I was informed that there was no way to get an exception
for any device. I asked to whom I should apply (or have my company
apply) for an exception in the future, and was told that it was
impossible. This by the manager of security at Gatwick.
/john
|
760.38 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:35 | 1 |
| Maybe TWA is just carrying cargo for ValuJet.
|
760.39 | | MOLAR::DELBALSO | I (spade) my (dogface) | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:41 | 4 |
| re: .36
[Hmmm. Herr Binder seems to know much about these sorts of things.]
|
760.40 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:42 | 5 |
| .37
We discussed your point 2 somewhere in here before, and memory tells me
that someone with experience in the matter explained that having a
letter from your company would indeed work in many/most places in Yurp.
|
760.41 | I discussed that very point with the security manager | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:45 | 7 |
| > We discussed your point 2 somewhere in here before, and memory tells me
> that someone with experience in the matter explained that having a
> letter from your company would indeed work in many/most places in Yurp.
Apparently not at Gatwick.
/john
|
760.42 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:47 | 12 |
| That was me, but more recent experience leads me to agree with John.
In Heathrow, there is no way you are getting through unless you
put everything in the detector. In fact, this has led to a spate of
laptop thefts, where the owner arrives at the other end to find their
machine is gone. Companies have been complaining about breaches in
their security as a result of missing machines, but airport security
says "then don't bring them".
Flight 800 apparently went through Athens recently, where security
has been questioned in the past.
|
760.43 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:51 | 5 |
| > Apparently not at Gatwick.
At Gatwick, the security people refused me permission to ship a
DISASSEMBLED AIR RIFLE in the baggage compartment of the plane I was
getting on. At Gatwick, the security people are joiks.
|
760.44 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 14:55 | 10 |
| > Flight 800 apparently went through Athens recently, where security
> has been questioned in the past.
It had just arrived from Athens, three hours before heading back out to Paris.
Hare Binder's scenario that someone might drop something into the outer
wall of the lavatory and then get off the plane at the next stop is quite
likely what happened in this case.
/john
|
760.45 | Security at Gatwick | KERNEL::FREKES | Excuse me while I scratch my butt | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:03 | 13 |
| I know security at Gatwick is very tight. I got hauled and searched
even before going through into the departure lounge. I had just check
in, and was about to walk through when I was approached by security.
I was told I fit a profile, of people that they have to look out for.
>At Gatwick, the security people refused me permission to ship a
DISASSEMBLED AIR RIFLE in the baggage compartment of the plane I
was getting on. At Gatwick, the security people are joiks.
Guys are just doing there jobs. Give em a break.
|
760.46 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:07 | 7 |
| .45
> Guys are just doing there jobs. Give em a break.
That's what they did for me, gave me a break. Or, rather, for my air
rifle, which I was forced to mail and which arrived at my destination
in a broken condition.
|
760.47 | You're leaving out all the good stuff | MOLAR::DELBALSO | I (spade) my (dogface) | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:07 | 4 |
| re: <<< Note 760.44 by COVERT::COVERT "John R. Covert" >>>
Hey! What happened to that intriguing bit about "the pouch" and the State
Department that you'd included in the first posting?
|
760.48 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:23 | 6 |
| I did some checking; unaccompanied diplomatic pouches are unclassified and
are subject to x-ray and other security measures. So I removed my comments.
(There were unaccompanied U.S. diplomatic pouches aboard; presumably they
were inspected like any other cargo.)
/john
|
760.49 | . | SWAM1::MEUSE_DA | | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:32 | 6 |
|
Pilots of a small plane near the the TWA flight stated they were
watching the lights from the plane. Then suddenly it just exploded
into a fireball. Altitude was at 7500 feet.
|
760.50 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:38 | 2 |
| my brother-in-law had a very close friend (attendent) killed on that
flight.
|
760.51 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:39 | 154 |
760.52 | It's back now... | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:41 | 4 |
| The local cable company in Acton just interrupted CNN's broadcast of a
TWA news conference at JFK to insert local advertising.
/john
|
760.53 | | NETCAD::CREEGAN | | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:44 | 4 |
| A coworker said there was a high-school class trip on board
the flight headed for a French vacation.
:-(
|
760.54 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:45 | 6 |
| There's a new count: 228.
Two less passengers (210), one more cockpit crew (4), still 14 attendants.
Names of cockpit crew were just released.
/john
|
760.55 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:46 | 65 |
760.56 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:47 | 30 |
760.57 | | GAVEL::JANDROW | i think, therefore i have a headache | Thu Jul 18 1996 15:54 | 15 |
|
re: the french club...
i would think that if the club had missed their flight, someone would
have called home saying so, or someone would have called home when they
got to paris. it doesn't seem that there has been such a call...
brings back memories of when my french club went to europe via new
york. the worse thing that happened to us was the we almost missed the
plane...
%^<
|
760.58 | Where'd I put that rubber brick? | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Thu Jul 18 1996 16:45 | 58 |
| As a side issue, I have to get this off my chest regarding the
TV coverage:
In the wee hours last night, I was switching back and forth between
CNN and CNBC. CNBC was running the coverage from their new cable
news channel, MSNBC, which is apparently some kind of joint venture
between Microsoft and NBC.
For now I'll mostly ignore MSNBC's anchordrone, who seemed to be an
amalgam of Jerry Springer, Ted Baxter, and Stonejaw Phillips; his
gestures, vocal inflections, and overall attitude were far too
cavalier for me.
MSNBC was doing an average job of covering the plane explosion,
especially given that this was only their third day of operation.
They were doing the usual expected segments involving quickly-arranged
telephone interviews with various involved people, press conferences
by TWA and government reps, in-studio interviews with experts, and
the like.
Then for their next "news segment", they decided to demonstrate for
us how wonderful the Internet was at a time like this, so they cut
to another desk in the studio with two people and an Internet
workstation. One person (obviously a marketing techie of some kind)
proceeded to excitedly pitch her Internet talk to the other person
about the wonders of the Internet.
We learned all about how we could log on and get all kinds of information
about the airplane and related topics from Web sites, how people could
discuss the crash on-line and express their feelings and concerns, and
so on. This patter was accompanied by her demoing assorted Web sites,
newsgroups and/or chat groups, etc., on the monitor.
At the end of this "news segment" on the plane explosion, she was all
happy and smiling as they handed it back to the anchor. At least the
other person with her (I don't know the infomercial terminology for the
second person in these pitches who's there to be the surrogate "us",
that the pitch person is addressing their comments to) had the good
taste to remain somber given the circumstances, as they cut back to
live shots of flaming wreckage bobbing up and down in the sea.
Disgusting. Is this the future of television "news"? At least with
"old-fashioned" TV news, we can maintain a pretense that the whole
news operation isn't bought off by some business with a vested interest
who wants to "tie in" their product as often as they can.
For those of you who are more comfortable with this than I am, what
would have been your reaction in the 1960's, back when RCA owned NBC,
if during (for example) the coverage of the Kennedy assassination,
amidst all of the reports, interviews, press conferences, etc., once
in a while the NBC News folks did a segment on how wonderful it was
to be able to see all of this as it happened, right in our homes,
with a brand-spanking-new 21" RCA color TV, complete with demo and
smiling pitchmen.
John Chancellor must be spinning...
Chris
|
760.59 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Carboy Junkie | Thu Jul 18 1996 16:54 | 1 |
| Who was the CNN guy? He looked like a mannequin to me.
|
760.60 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Thu Jul 18 1996 16:57 | 2 |
| On the other hand, Peter Jennings (from 10-11) managed to make an
impressively large fool of himself, even by his standards.
|
760.61 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Carboy Junkie | Thu Jul 18 1996 17:07 | 1 |
| Well, he is from the Ottawa Valley, after all.
|
760.62 | ABC/CBS/NBC were long gone by midnight | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Thu Jul 18 1996 17:07 | 14 |
| re: Peter Jennings (and others)
Never saw him, or any of the other "Big Three" network coverage,
because, incredibly, by the time I'd started channel surfing and
discovered the plane-explosion news at around 12:15 AM, the *only*
networks covering the story were CNN and CNBC (via the Bill Gates
News Network), and also New Jersey's local WWOR which my cable system
carries.
The "Big Three" were showing Leno yukking it up, Letterman yukking
it up, and some trashy tabloid "news" show. Amazing... did they do
this after the OKC bombing as well?
Chris
|
760.63 | Those animatronics are so lifelike! | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Thu Jul 18 1996 17:12 | 17 |
| > Who was the CNN guy? He looked like a mannequin to me.
If it's the same guy that I was watching from around midnight to
three AM or so, I thought he looked like one of those scary Duracell
battery "people".
But once I got past his looks, he seemed to be doing a credible job,
especially when he was questioning people in hastily-arranged
telephone interviews and the like, with his rapid-fire questions.
Either he can think on his feet, or CNN is extremely organized
and fast in coming up with pre-written questions for the guy
to ask, or both.
Either that, or my standards have been permanently lowered and
it's all hopeless. :-)
Chris
|
760.64 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Thu Jul 18 1996 17:24 | 3 |
| .61:
Well, that 'splains the trace of Canadian accent, I guess.
|
760.65 | Got a pit in my stomach... | MARIN::WANNOOR | | Thu Jul 18 1996 17:29 | 34 |
|
In Alameda (Bay area, CA) I first saw the coverage on WABC (a local
NY station relayed out here obviously) quite accidentally... I mean
this was around 6:00 PST, so it was FRESH. What surprised me was
none of the other networks carried anything at the time (I don't have
cable); in fact they didn't start reporting until about 8-9pm PST!
I got to tell you though... the pair of anchors on the WABC was a
colossal joke. At one point the female anchor was laughing away,
probably delighted to have a news scoop. The male anchor was, pardon
me, NOT very smart. I'm not talking rocket scientiest type of smart
here. You won't believe the stupid questions he asked. The female
(all spiffed up younger blonde) was extremely competitive, cutting
the old fool anytime she got, to show off how much smarter she was.
She wasn't a good actor, but again it was a perverse "delight" to
see an "honest-feeling" anchor on line. Her name was Diane or Diana
something, and the old fool was a Bill something.
Nope, I kid you not about this "news reporting". Of course later
Jennings of the network might, quickly put these two jokers in their
rightful place. Furthermore he managed to pretty much accused an
eyewitness who happened to be fishing out bodies as a liar; that he
(Jennings) did not know if indeed this was a legit eyewitness, all
the while this guy was saying he was busy helping out! I just couldn't,
couldn't believe it!
Frankly I have no respect for these so-called journalists. This was a
field day for them. A scoop, that's all, and all the crocodile tears/
expressions pasted on their faces will not convince me otherwise.
OK, now I am appalled at all the song-n-dance the officials are doing
right now. Give me a break; it looked like Lockerbie, smelled like
Lockerbie, it most probably was a Lockerbie.
|
760.66 | Slick's still too tired from his recent Cuba dance | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Thu Jul 18 1996 17:44 | 22 |
| > Frankly I have no respect for these so-called journalists. This was a
> field day for them. A scoop, that's all, and all the crocodile tears/
> expressions pasted on their faces will not convince me otherwise.
I'm not sure who's worse, the "journalists" or the Parade of
Politicians and their surrounding cronies who feel they must
crowd around anything that looks like a microphone stand,
telling us about how sad they are and how they're doing everything
they can. I mean, what's the mayor of NYC going to do, send out
the rec department? Why do we want to see and hear him?
> OK, now I am appalled at all the song-n-dance the officials are doing
> right now. Give me a break; it looked like Lockerbie, smelled like
> Lockerbie, it most probably was a Lockerbie.
Because the "crack" team at the White House doesn't want to deal with
a Lockerbie. One eagerly awaits their reactions and actions in the
days ahead. If they have another anti-terrorism bill all ready to
send off to Congress, I won't be surprised.
Chris
|
760.67 | | BIGQ::SILVA | I'm out, therefore I am | Thu Jul 18 1996 18:08 | 12 |
| | <<< Note 760.62 by DECWIN::RALTO "Jail to the Chief" >>>
| The "Big Three" were showing Leno yukking it up, Letterman yukking
| it up, and some trashy tabloid "news" show. Amazing... did they do
| this after the OKC bombing as well?
Chris, what you missed was the same 3 stations saying the same things
over and over again. You can only do that for so long. And with channel 7 is
concerned, they are the worst. Tabloid news at best. Sensationalizing the news
would be better. The reporter told a pilot who just flew in about it. The guy
had a friend on the flight and was deeply upset. Hell, why doesn't channel 7
lose their license????
|
760.68 | Coincidences and motivations | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Thu Jul 18 1996 18:13 | 17 |
| > Hell, why doesn't channel 7 lose their license????
If Channel 7 lost their license, at least three makeup and hair-products
companies would immediately go out of business, having lost the
revenue of Channel 7's News Department. So let's keep Channel 7
going, it's good for the economy!
re: the plane explosion
If it's a terrorist bombing, I wonder if it's coincidental with the
our Cuba/EC saber-rattling, or coincidental with the Olympics (the
media loves this one; I'm less convinced due to the location if
nothing else), or coincidental with nothing in particular other
than the "usual" anti-US feelings.
Chris
|
760.69 | Dirty laundry sells | N2DEEP::SHALLOW | Subtract L, invert W | Thu Jul 18 1996 18:26 | 9 |
| I think Don Henley said it very well...
See the bubble-headed bleach blonde she comes on at 5,
she can tell ya bout the plane crash with a gleam in her eyes
interesting when people die gives ya dirty laundry
News sells, bad news sells better. It's the "ratings game".
Too sad
|
760.70 | Not too difficult if you're a terrorist. | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Thu Jul 18 1996 19:19 | 1 |
| Stinger missle. Bypass security.
|
760.71 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Thu Jul 18 1996 19:31 | 2 |
|
<--- nice to see ya MM.
|
760.72 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Thu Jul 18 1996 19:43 | 17 |
| Same to you Mr Battis. This workin for a living is hell doncha know.
Actually it's not. I just wanted to see the sandbox spin on the
plane crash. I was watching the history channel last night (and
james bond on TBS) and occasionally flipped over to ABC during
commercials. As I expected, Jennings was pissing his pants. I can't
stomach that sort of entertainment anymore.
I suppose the investigators will know wether it was a bomb or not
shortly. The residue will give it away. I think within 10 years
or sooner, my .70 will not be far fetched. A lot of loose stuff
missing, no need to go through severe security, out in international
water, toss the spent launcher overboard... nobody knows nothing
except there was a big flash. Figure for a minute, a 747 heading
non-stop to paris, has on board about what? 300,000 pounds of
fuel? Were there any survivors?... gimme a break.
MadMike
|
760.73 | | TUXEDO::GASKELL | | Thu Jul 18 1996 20:07 | 6 |
|
>>Stinger missle. Bypass security.<<
You don't have to wait 10 years, someone fired a rocket at
a plane taking off from a British airport several years ago.
|
760.74 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Carboy Junkie | Thu Jul 18 1996 20:12 | 1 |
| No doubt while taking a long lunch.
|
760.75 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Thu Jul 18 1996 20:14 | 7 |
| Stinger Missle:
Maybe one of those we gave the Afganistan "freedom fighters" who in turn
gave/sold them to the Iranians and Syrians, who in turn have been passing
them out to any AK toting group with the word "Jihad" in its name.
You mean those Stinger Missles?
|
760.76 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Thu Jul 18 1996 20:18 | 1 |
| Missiles. nnttm.
|
760.77 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Thu Jul 18 1996 20:18 | 9 |
| re: Note 760.75 by BULEAN::BANKS
That's them. We handed 'em out like candy. Folks get hard up
for cash, you know. There's probably a lot of groups that
would drop a million or so to get their hands on something that
don't miss.
On a lighter side, I'm sure this is all BILL CLINTONS fault. Ya,
that's the ticket...
|
760.78 | | POBOXA::DFIELD | | Thu Jul 18 1996 20:58 | 15 |
|
RE: .70 Stinger Missle
I have always wondered why this stunt hasn't been pulled...
I think practically speaking it would be used during takeoff
or in the landing pattern. I'm not a missle expert but I always
got the impression that stingers were used against ground
attack helicopters and aircraft. I don't know if they can
take a plane out at the altitudes that airliners would cross
the ocean at..
Scary thought though..
-D
|
760.79 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | Evil Ed | Thu Jul 18 1996 21:21 | 2 |
| There is no way that one stinger missle would be able to make a
747 explode.
|
760.80 | | BUSY::SLABOUNTY | Can you hear the drums, Fernando? | Thu Jul 18 1996 21:24 | 3 |
|
I guess it would depend on the point of contact, yes?
|
760.81 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | Evil Ed | Thu Jul 18 1996 21:52 | 3 |
| No, a stinger doesn't even have enough explosive force to do more
than blow a small hole in one of the engines. And that would have to be
a very lucky shot.
|
760.82 | warning was received | SWAM1::MEUSE_DA | | Thu Jul 18 1996 21:53 | 14 |
|
from Reuters:
ABC News reports that a major Arabic newspaper received a specific
written warning Wednesday, before a TWA plane exploded and crashed.
The report said the warning came from the "Movement for Islamic
Change", the same group that claimed responsibility for a November
bombing in Saudi Arabia that kill seven people. The warning reportedly
said the attack would occur at about the time the TWA jetliner
on boad exploded Wednesday night.
Apparently the warning was not passed along to authorities.
|
760.83 | . | SWAM1::MEUSE_DA | | Thu Jul 18 1996 21:56 | 5 |
| -1
should read ..with 228 on board.
|
760.84 | Who said flying is safer than driving? | DECLNE::REESE | My REALITY check bounced | Thu Jul 18 1996 23:29 | 26 |
| The dude on MSNBC was Brian Williams for the prime time leg of the
coverage.
The initial report of the total number of TWA employees on board
was correct; there was another complete crew riding in the
passenger section. They were to hook up and handle a flight out
of Paris on a different plane.
FWIW, almost the entire series of Boeing 747s were designed on
DEC's 18-bit machines; PDP 9s & 15s. (I know because they gave a
mock-up to one of the guys I used to work with in FS who was one
of last FSEs to service these machines. We used the mock-up when
we had an open-house at IPO when the CSC first opened there).
A Boeing spokesman said this particular plane was built in 1971,
that doesn't necessarily make it unsafe.
TWA has had financial problems, but so far there's been no reports
that they were having the same maintenance problems as ValuJet.
ValuJet was subcontracting out almost all of its maintenace; TWA
is now an employee-owned company, I can't believe they'd sub out
maint and put existing TWA people out of work.
Mebbe I've been talking to MadMike too much, but I wouldn't be
surprised to learn that some idjit used a SAM on it :-(
|
760.85 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 23:53 | 5 |
| The press seems to have picked up on Mad Mike's rumour, but the experts
are saying that the plane was too far away for a Stinger, and are also
not sure a Stinger would take out a four engine aircraft.
/john
|
760.86 | | MFGFIN::EPPERSON | I saw a chicken with two heads | Thu Jul 18 1996 23:56 | 7 |
| Heard on the radio that this was definately a terrorist act. The plane
was shot down by an anti aircraft missle. It had to be launched from
a boat or an island. The radio sais that sources beleive this was done
by the same terrorists that blew up the embassy in Saudi Arabia.
What will Slick Willy do now? Nothing? We should be striking them
back right now.
|
760.87 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 18 1996 23:59 | 1 |
| Parking lot!
|
760.88 | Maybe the militia did it. Ya, ban guns. That's the ticket | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Jul 19 1996 00:35 | 27 |
| sure, credit me with starting the rumor.... I've talked to the FBI
enough in my lifetime already. :^)
set mode/game=clue
Some terrorist, not necessarily an angry arab
did it from a boat
with a stinger
The stinger rumor will be all wild and frenzied, but the US will
deny it. It'll ultimately be pinned on a bomb, ya, that's the ticket.
Couldn't be a stinger cause the range... a stinger can't go from
long island to 13K feet 10 miles off shore... but I'll bet a stinger
can be launched from a boat, sitting out in the ocean over a known
traffic pattern. A big plane, full of fuel... I think a stinger could
bring something like that down. It'll seek the engine exhaust, and
the engine is connected to the wing which is loaded with fuel.
This will be denied because it'll make the US look like tarts for
giving away all those goodies and not knowing where all the stuff
is now. Iran Contra and all that crap revisited.
I really wonder how much we'll be hearing from that ANG Major who
saw what looked to be "a shooting star" chasing the aircraft just
before it exploded. Maybe he'll "remember" seeing something different.
MadMike
|
760.89 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | ED WALKER | Fri Jul 19 1996 01:01 | 3 |
| Something this big can't just be covered up. I have heard that
stinger missles are designed to deteriorate within a month or two and
become worthless. Can anyone confirm this?
|
760.90 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 19 1996 01:55 | 12 |
|
re earlier replies...a 25 year old airplane is quite different than a 25
year old car (besides the obvious). A commercial airplane goes through
extensive checks and after x hours is essentially totally torn down and
rebuilt. This assumes the airline is following regulations, of course.
Jim
|
760.91 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 03:11 | 3 |
|
The first officer was Capt. Ralph Kevorkian.
|
760.92 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 19 1996 03:16 | 17 |
|
Is it absolutely necessary for the media to be quite so extensive in
their coverage? Do we have to see repeated video clips of family/friends
of the victims arriving at the hotel or airport? Do we really have to
have the same reports repeated several times?
I know this is a tragedy, and I am interested in what happened and how
the investigation is going, but I don't wish to see the families in their
grief. Does each tragedy that happens in this country need to be covered
around the clock?
Jim
|
760.93 | | THEMAX::EPPERSON | I saw a chicken with two heads | Fri Jul 19 1996 03:25 | 5 |
| That`s the media for you. You and I don`t want to hear it, but we must
not be the majority. I think the general public likes to revel in other
peoples sorrows. Look at the popularity of shows like Springer and
Tempest. The morons in this country love that crap.
|
760.94 | | BIGQ::SILVA | I'm out, therefore I am | Fri Jul 19 1996 04:58 | 4 |
|
Jim, did it take seeing it more than once to make you not want to see
it again? If so, it was probably shown a dozen or so times before you saw it.
|
760.95 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Fri Jul 19 1996 11:01 | 8 |
| ...and who should we be striking back at right now? oh, them? i see.
until some solid information can be collected, your postion is a
little weak
i heard this morning that the examination of the radar record showed
the potential surface-to-air blip to be a false blip leaving no
evidence that this was the vehicle for flight 800's demise.
|
760.96 | Like the Christians say: | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Fri Jul 19 1996 11:45 | 1 |
| ...amen.
|
760.97 | People, people, PEOPLE! | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Fri Jul 19 1996 11:59 | 19 |
|
| until some solid information can be collected
No no no no no! We must have the rumour du hour. I mean, how can we
all live without the "expert" opinions of the Gunderson-types on
what happened to the airplane. At least we haven't been "treated" to
the "expert" opinions of 'box commentators that the bodies were planted
in the water.
The Globe proclaimed proudly this morning, apparently oblivious to the
sick irony of their page one headline....
Crash search widens;
experts talk of bomb.
President warns against a
rush to judgement.
-mr. bill
|
760.98 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Fri Jul 19 1996 12:09 | 21 |
| <<< Note 760.95 by WMOIS::GIROUARD_C >>>
>i heard this morning that the examination of the radar record showed
>the potential surface-to-air blip to be a false blip leaving no
>evidence that this was the vehicle for flight 800's demise.
Reported this morning on CNN.
A Stinger missle has been ruled out since the Stinger does not
have the capability of reaching the 13k+ foot altitude that the
747 was flying at just prior to dissapearing from radar.
Focus is now a catastrophic mechanical failure or a bomb on the
aircraft.
Navy divers are scheduled to start searching for the flight and
voice recorders this morning.
Jim
|
760.99 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 12:17 | 6 |
| Hit back noe eh?
It doesn't really bear thinking about, but after Oklahoma and the
Unabomber, it could just as easily be home grown terrorism. Which
state do you want to hit?
|
760.100 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 12:33 | 8 |
| Hey, MadMike, you started a whole new spelling!
FWIW, if it really was a SAM, and I were running the gov't, I'd sure be
denying the possibility that it was a SAM right now. If they're out
looking for someone with a stinger and a motorboat, it'd be in their best
interests to make everyone believe that this is precisely not what they're
looking for. That way, the potential guilty parties don't feel such a need
to be hiding.
|
760.101 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Fri Jul 19 1996 12:39 | 4 |
|
has it occured to anyone, that maybe, just maybe, the plane blew up
without a bomb. Not sure how that could happen, but maybe their was no
bomb or missle involved.
|
760.102 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 12:44 | 1 |
| <-- dead man walking!
|
760.103 | very, very unlikely... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Fri Jul 19 1996 12:50 | 12 |
|
No 747-100 has EVER "just blown up".
TWA hasn't had a major accident in 23 years.
There was no report of anything wrong before the plane left radar.
Sorry, it wasn't the plane. Something exploded on board. Whether
that was a bomb or missile or unsafe cargo, is not known. The box,
if recovered, will reveal much.
bb
|
760.104 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Jul 19 1996 12:51 | 16 |
| Planes don't just explode. They have some help, i.e. bomb, or
a collision. If there was a fire onboard, the crew would have had
a couple seconds at least to radio "we're screwed".
It might not have been a stinger, but some other type missile, or
a bomb.
My point I suppose, is we're going to get all freaked out about
"security"; lock down everything, strip search passengers, hand inspect
every piece of cargo 8 times... and some moron will drop a plane
a mile or two after it leaves the airport. So, what'll we do then?
Have commercial airliners be equiped with chaffe? Electronic Jamming?
I think there is a whole new threat out there these days, and we're
still trying to stop someone from bringing a pocket knife on board.
MadMike
|
760.105 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | bon marcher, as far as she can tell | Fri Jul 19 1996 12:56 | 10 |
| >has it occured to anyone, that maybe, just maybe, the plane blew up
>without a bomb. Not sure how that could happen, but maybe their was no
>bomb or missle involved.
My brother, who used to work on 747s for TWA at JFK, is highly
skeptical (to say the least) that "catastrophic engine failure,
rupturing the fuel tanks" could have caused the fireball reported by
eyewitnesses. My personal opinion is that chances are greater than 90%
that an explosive device of some sort caused this tragedy. This wasn't
a rear-ended Pinto, after all.
|
760.106 | | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:01 | 8 |
| I was listening to talk radio last nite. Caller recommended pictures be taken
(computer technology) at gate when passenger initially boards, then that picture
accompany boarding pass throughout route.
When the idea was proposed [to guest on program - some official of some kind)
his first response was cost would be a factor.
How much would something like that cost, and is any price too high?
|
760.107 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:01 | 3 |
|
you're all probably right in that regard. I was just curious if it
was possible.
|
760.108 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:11 | 6 |
| that system would work fine (maybe) if it were administered globally.
if a country like, say Greece doesn't play there could easily be
opportunity for conspiracy. the bomb can be planted overseas with
a timing device. if all goes to schedule... BOOM! a plane full
people go down in the Atlantic in a fireball.
|
760.109 | Naw, too simple | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:19 | 8 |
| The next "solution", if Greece or any other country has poor security,
is to unload any plane arriving from that location and run ALL
CARGO and people through our security system. Any bomb planted
onboard in Greece would theoretically be caught by our security
systems. And if we miss it, we can't pin the blame on lax foreign
security.
MadMike
|
760.110 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:19 | 6 |
|
.102
Colin, I have a call in to Dr. Kevorkian's office. I'm told he's seeing
other patients, and for me to be patient. I'm sure he'll get around
to me before BP does.
|
760.111 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:20 | 13 |
| OTOH,
They did say that with the burning happening on one side of the plane, it
would be consistent with a catastrophic engine failure.
I don't think that's what happened, but it's still possible.
OTOH,
Just because it hasn't happened before doesn't mean it can't happen now.
That argument was used with the Challenger launch. Different
probabilities, yes, but if it's possible, then no matter how improbable,
it's still possible.
|
760.112 | | BUSY::SLABOUNTY | Consume feces and expire. | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:48 | 11 |
|
>Some terrorist, not necessarily an angry arab
>did it from a boat
>with a stinger
Actually, my guess would have been:
Colonel Mustard
did it in the library
with a candlestick
|
760.113 | | BRITE::FYFE | Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:49 | 5 |
|
New reports indicates some victims survived the fall
but died of drowning ....
|
760.114 | | AIMHI::RAUH | I survived the Cruel Spa | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:50 | 2 |
| .112 Not funny. Wrong person.
|
760.115 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:51 | 1 |
| Pretty weird that the pilot's name was Kevorkian.
|
760.116 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 13:53 | 3 |
| re .115 first ossifer.
see .91
|
760.117 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:04 | 14 |
|
> New reports indicates some victims survived the fall
> but died of drowning ....
The rest of the story:
Suffolk County Medical Examiner Charles Wetli said some victims showed
evidence of drowning, which means they could have been alive when they hit
the water. But the same victims were probably unconscious, or near death
from the blast, he said.
Most victims died instantly from the "massive blunt force" of the
explosion, Wetli said. "Death literally occurred in a heartbeat."
|
760.118 | | CONSLT::MCBRIDE | Idleness, the holiday of fools | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:06 | 6 |
| The Athens airport is supposedly has the most notoriously lax security.
My manager went to Greece last year ans was surprised by the lack of
anyone viewing baggage contents on the x-ray machine, the lack of pat
downs or pocket emptying when the buzzer went off on the metal
detector, the lack of control for non-passengers from entering the
boarding areas, the lack of.........
|
760.119 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:10 | 58 |
| U.S. makes bomb-detection gear, but doesn't use it
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Copyright 1996 Nando.net
Reuters
BOSTON - Israel has them. So do Britain, Germany and Switzerland. But U.S.
airports routinely lack advanced bomb-detection equipment that is made in
the United States and has become an integral part of baggage checkpoints
elsewhere.
The Federal Aviation Administration "continues to do research, saying 'When
the perfect technology comes along we can get it,"' said John Wood,
president and chief executive officer of Thermedics Inc. of Woburn,
Massachusetts, which manufactures one such system.
"The rest of the world treats the threat (of airliner bombings) in a
different way than the U.S. does," he added.
Thermedics' EGIS system, a detection device that recognises vapours from
explosives, was developed with partial FAA funding. The system is now in use
in Israel, Germany and Switzerland. The cost is roughly $160,000 per unit.
Invision Technology, based in Foster City, California, makes the only
FAA-certified explosive detection device. Based on technology similar to
that used in medical CAT scan machines, Invision's CTX5000 units cost about
$1 million. But the firm's president, Dr. Sergio Magistri, suggested that
over the life of the product the cost was closer to $2 a passenger ticket.
The CTX5000 is in use in Brussels, London and Manchester, England, and in
Tokyo. It is also being used by Delta Air Lines in Atlanta for the Olympics
and by United Airlines in San Francisco, Magistri said.
"You may well ask why of the 20 units we have sold only three are operating
in the U.S.," Magistri said. "Outside the U.S., security is the
responsibility of government agencies. Here it is divided."
Susan Rorak, managing director of the Air Transport Association, a trade
group representing U.S. carriers, said it was not just a question of cost
but of value. "If I'm getting ready to buy a mouse trap and it's going to
cost me quite a bit of money and around the corner is a mouse trap that is
six times better, shouldn't I wait for that mouse trap?"
Congress, in response to the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over
Lockerbie, Scotland, required the FAA to begin funding in 1990 new
technology that could detect various forms of explosive devices, certify and
deploy those devices.
Eight years later, the FAA still does not require airlines or airports to
have bomb-detection equipment and at least one financial analyst does not
expect it to do so anytime soon.
"The likelihood that the FAA will require airlines and airport authorities
in every airport to install these devices is unlikely," said Angus
Macdonald, an analyst at Fahnestock & Co who follows Thermedics. "We've
never seen this government agency take a stand."
Calls to the FAA were not immediately returned.
|
760.120 | More likely though, "mechanical failure" will be declared | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:18 | 13 |
| If it proves to have been a bomb or missile, and if the country
of origin is identified, then what would be the most likely response
of the U.S.? My guess:
1. Deplore the situation.
2. Condemn the act.
3. Declare that the "individuals" and/or "groups" (not "countries")
responsible for this heinous act will be brought to justice.
4. Go home, kick their shoes off, and put their feet up.
5. Wait for the story to disappear from the news.
6. Next problem.
Chris
|
760.121 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:21 | 1 |
| re .-1 Yep. Looking just like Lockerbie, no?
|
760.122 | | DECWIN::JUDY | That's *Ms. Bitch* to you! | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:29 | 22 |
|
What I don't get is:
Channel 5 did a poll, asking people if they would be willing
to pay a measly $10 extra per ticket to have more advanced
security systems put in. 26% said no! No, to a measly $10
in order to beef up airline security. Stupid people.
Also, what was HIV infected blood doing on a passenger flight?
This was reported on Channel 5 last night as well.
And I can't even imagine how the high school students in PA
are feeling in reaction to losing 16 of their friends in this
crash. I lost two classmates in a car accident, at the age
of 16, and my class had a very hard time just dealing with that.
The enormity of losing 16 classmates at once is overwhelming.
JJ
|
760.123 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:37 | 5 |
| > Also, what was HIV infected blood doing on a passenger flight?
Lots of flights have at least one HIV+ passenger. Said passenger contains
HIV+ blood. Are you saying there was HIV+ blood in the cargo hold? Passengers
are more likely to come into contact with other passengers than with cargo.
|
760.124 | | BUSY::SLABOUNTY | Cracker | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:41 | 4 |
|
But when the plane explodes, that blood could be spread every-
where. And that could infect everybody.
|
760.125 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:42 | 15 |
| About a decade ago, when airlines seemed to hit their all-time lows for
quality of service (or lack thereof), EVERYONE had war stories for one
airline in particular (not to be named here, etc.). These same people
would inevitably book their next flight on this same airline. When I asked
why, the answer was always that it was cheaper.
What I took away from this is that when it comes to buying airline tickets,
people will put up with things they say are unacceptable, all in the name
of saving a couple of bucks.
I'm surprised that only 26% said no. I am sure that if some airlines had
the advanced security (and charged the extra $10), and some didn't, the
airlines with advanced security would see a marked drop in their
non-business bookings. One that would no doubt represent more than those
26% polled.
|
760.126 | Journalism at its finest | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:46 | 7 |
| > But when the plane explodes, that blood could be spread every-
> where. And that could infect everybody.
Geraldo's response to that concern last night was to mumble,
"Well, it's a pretty big ocean..."
Chris
|
760.127 | | DECWIN::JUDY | That's *Ms. Bitch* to you! | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:46 | 7 |
|
The way I understood it, there was HIV+ infected blood on
the plane, NOT in a human body on the plane. I want to
know what the purpose was of shipping HIV+ blood on a passenger
plane.
|
760.128 | | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:47 | 3 |
| Then again, some believe, when your time is up, it's up.
Not that I subscribe to that in every circumstance, just reflecting a view.
|
760.129 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 14:54 | 474 |
| Complete, official list of passengers and crew aboard TWA Flight 800
By Associated Press, 07/19/96
Here is a complete list of the 230 people, including four cockpit crew
members and 14 flight attendants, aboard Trans World Airlines Flight
800, as provided by the airline, with details added by family, friends
or officials:
- Aikens-Bellamy, Sandra, 49, off-duty TWA employee, of St. Albans,
N.Y.
- Aikey, Jessica, teen-ager from Montoursville, Pa.
- Alex, Christian
- Alexander, Matthew, 20, a student at Wake Forest University,
Winston-Salem, N.C., traveling to Dijon, France, to study, of Florence,
S.C.
- Allen, Lamar, of Marietta, Ga. (father of Ashton Allen).
- Allen, Ashton, 15, of Marietta, Ga.
- Amlund, Svein
- Anderson, Jay Edward, 49, financial planner for Allmerica, of Warson
Woods, Mo. (married to Patricia Anderson).
- Anderson, Patricia, 42, of Warson Woods, Mo.
- Anderson, Seana
- Babb, David, 13, of Volant, Pa. (nephew of Clara and Namik Ersoz)
- Baszczewski, Daniel
- Beatty, Charles
- Becker, Michelle
- Bellazoug, Myriam, 30, architect, of New York City.
- Benjamin, Arthur, of Philadelphia.
- Benjamin, Joan
- Berthe, Line
- Berthe, Maurice
- Bluestone, Nicolas
- Bohlin, Michelle
- Bossuyt, Luc
- Bouhs, Leonie
- Bower, Jordon
- Braman, Rosie, 47, off-duty TWA employee, of Hoboken, N.J.
- Breistroff, Michel, 25, French hockey player who graduated Harvard in
1995.
- Brooks, Edwin, 81, former executive vice president of Taco
Industries, of Edgartown, Mass. (husband of Ruth Brooks)
- Brooks, Ruth, 79, of Edgartown, Mass.
- Buttaroni, Mirko, 26, bank employee, of Fano, Italy (married to
Monica Omiccioli).
- Caillaud, Anthony
- Caillaud, Daniel
- Callas, Dan J., 22, TWA Flight 800 crew, of Philadelphia.
- Campbell, Richard G., 63, TWA Flight 800 flight engineer, of
Ridgefield, Conn.
- Carven, Jay, 9, of Bel Air, Md. (son of Paula Carven).
- Carven, Paula, off-duty TWA flight attendant and part-time
real-estate agent, of Bel Air, Md.
- Cayrol, Jacques
- Chaillou, Jenny
- Chanson, Ludovic, 12, exchange student returning to family, of
Garancieres, France.
- Charbonnier, Jacques, 66, TWA flight 800 crew, of Huntington Station,
N.Y.
- Charbonnier, Constance, 49, TWA flight 800 crew, of Huntington
Station, N.Y.
- Chemtob, Monique
- Christopher, Janet, 48, TWA flight 800 crew, of Stamford Heights, Pa.
- Coiner, Constance, 48, associate professor of English and literature
at State University of New York at Binghamton, of Binghamton, N.Y.
(Anna Duarte Coiner's mother)
- Coiner, Anna Duarte, 12, of Binghamton, N.Y.
- Cox, Monica
- Crandell, Pamela, 28, a first-grade teacher, of Anne Arundel County,
Md.
- Creamades, Daniel
- Dadi, Marcel, 46, French musician who helped spread Chet Atkins'
style of guitar-playing across Europe and was returning home after
being honored at Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn.
- D' Alessandro, Anna, of Palo del Colle, Italy (married to Giuseppe
Mercurio).
- Darley, Francois
- Deboisredon, Cybele
- Delange, Sylvain
- Delouvrier, Judith, 47, a philanthropist who was a trustee of her
family's Philadelphia-based Connelly Foundation, of Manhattan.
- Dhuimieres, Dominiques
- Dickey, Deborah, a French teacher, of Montoursville, Pa. (married to
Douglas Dickey)
- Dickey, Douglas, of Montoursville, Pa.
- DiLuccio, Debra Collins, 47, TWA flight 800 crew, of Agropoli, Italy.
- D'Iorio, Christine Bailey, mother of four, waitress, of Prato, Italy
(married to Pietro D'Iorio).
- D'Iorio, Pietro, waiter, of Prato, Italy
- Dodge, Warren, 50, off-duty TWA employee, of Brentwood, N.H.
- Dupont, Guy
- Dwyer, Larkyn, 12, of New River, Ariz. was en route alone to visit
relatives in Paris.
- Edwards, Daryl, 41, off-duty TWA service supervisor, Jersey City,
N.J.
- Ellison, Marie
- Ersoz, Clara, 59, anesthesiologist, of Pittsburgh (married to Namik
Ersoz, aunt of David Babb).
- Ersoz, Namik, anesthesiologist, of Pittsburgh
- Eshleman, Dougas A., 35, off-duty TWA flight engineer, of Aurora,
Colo.
- Estival, Alexandre
- Feeney, Deirdre, U.S. resident visiting family in Kilmore, Ireland
(daughter of Vera Feeney).
- Feeney, Vera, U.S. resident visiting family in Kilmore, Ireland
- Ferrat (first name unavailable)
- Foster, Rod
- Foulon, Didier
- Fry, Carol
- Furlano, Rosaria
- Gabor, Daniel, 27, of Fayetteville, Ark. and Walnut Creek, Calif.
- Gaetke, Daniel, of Kansas City, Mo. (married to Stephanie Gaetke).
- Gaetke, Stephanie, of Kansas City, Mo.
- Gallagher, Claire.
- Galland, Jean Paul.
- Graham, Steven.
- Gray, Charles Hank, 47, Memphis, president and chief operating
officer of Midland Financial Group, Inc.
- Greene, Renee.
- Griffith, Donna.
- Griffith, Joanne, 39, New York City.
- Grimm, Julia.
- Grivet, Cyril.
- Gustin, Anne.
- Hammer, Beverly, of Long Island, N.Y. (mother of Tracy Hammer).
- Hammer, Tracy, of Long Island
- Hansen, Lars Groenbakken.
- Harkness, Eric, 23, Birchwood, Ohio.
- Harris, Lawrence.
- Hasanni, Dr. Ghassan, of Grosse Point Shores, Mich. (married to Nina
Hasanni)
- Hasanni, Nina (NOT ON TWA LIST) of Grosse Point Shores, Mich.
- Hazelton, Sandra.
- Hettler, Rance.
- Hill, Susan.
- Hocharo, Jeanpierre.
- Hogan, David.
- Holst, Virginia.
- Holst, Eric.
- Hull, James, 48, Southampton, Penn.
- Hurd, J.
- Ingenhuett, Lonnie, 43, Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Jacquemot, Benoit.
- Jensen, Susanne.
- Johns, Courtney, 18, of Clarkston, Mich.
- Johnsen, Arlene E., 60, Flight 800 flight attendant., of Grand
Junction, Colo.
- Johnson, E.
- Johnson, Jed, New York, interior designer.
- Johnson, L.
- Jones, Romana.
- Karschner, Amanda.
- Krikhan, Margot.
- Krukar, Andrew, 40, an engineer, Bridgewater, Conn.
- Kwan, Barbara, 40, Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Kwiat, Patricia
- Kwiat, Kimberly
- Labys, Jane, of Morgantown, W.Va.
- Lacailledesse, Antoine
- LaForge, Alain
- Lamour, Yvon
- Lang, Ray, 51, TWA flight 800 crew, North Massapequa, N.Y.
- Lockhart, Maureen, 49, TWA flight 800 crew, Kansas City, Mo.
- Loffredo, Elaine, 50, Glastonbury, Conn.
- Loudenslager, Jody
- Lohan, Britta
- Loffredo, Eli, 42, Albuquerque, N.M.
- Manchuelle, Francois.
- Loo, Patricia.
- Lucien, Dalila (niece of saxophone player Wayne Shorter, who was not
on the flight)
- Luevano, Eli, 42, Albuquerque, N.M.
- Maresq, Etienne.
- Maresq, Nicolas.
- Martin, Betty Ruth.
- Mazzola, Salvator, of Palermo, Italy.
- McPherson, Pamela, 45, Atlanta.
- Meade, Sandra, 42, TWA Flight 800 crew, Camano Island, Wash.
- Mercurio, Giuseppe, of Palo del Colle, Italy (married to Anna
D'Alessandro).
- Melotin, Grace, 48, TWA Flight 800 crew, Corona, N.Y.
- Merieux, Rodolphe.
- Meshulam, Avishaim.
- Michel, Pascal.
- Miller, Amy.
- Miller, Elizabeth.
- Miller, Gid, 57, Sarasota, Fla.
- Miller, Joan.
- Miller, Kyle.
- Miller, Robert.
- Murta, Angela.
- Nibert, Cheryl.
- Notes, Gadi.
- O'Hara, Caitlin, 13. (daughter of Janet and John O'Hara)
- O'Hara, Janet. (married to John O'Hara)
- O'Hara, John, 39, Emmy Award-winning executive producer of ABC
Sports.
- Olsen, Rebecca.
- Omiccioli, Monica, (married to Mirko Buttaroni) of Fano, Italy.
- Orman, Alan.
- Paquet, Huguette.
- Paquet, Ingrid.
- Pares, Serge.
- Penzer, Judy.
- Percy, Marion.
- Price, Dennis, of Englewood, Colo. (married to Peggy Price).
- Price, Peggy, of Englewood, Colo.
- Privetie, Brenda.
- Puhlmann, Rico.
- Puichaud, Elizabeth.
- Remy, Jacqueline.
- Rhein, Kirk.
- Rhoads, Marit E., 48, TWA Flight 800 Crew, Belleville, Wash.
- Richey, Brent.
- Richter, Annelyse.
- Richter, Noemie.
- Rio, Celine.
- Rogers, Kimberly.
- Rojany, Yon.
- Romangna, Barbara.
- Rose, Katrina.
- Rupert, Judith.
- Schuldt, Mike, 51, TWA Flight 800 Crew, Safety Harbor, Fla.
- Scott, Barbara.
- Scott, Joseph.
- Scott, Michael.
- Shorter, Anamaria, (wife of saxophone player Wayne Shorter, who was
not on the flight).
- Siebert, Brenna.
- Siebert, Chrisha.
- Silverman, Candace.
- Silverman, Etta.
- Silverman, Gene.
- Silverman, Jamie.
- Simmons, Olivia, 50, Orange, N.J.
- Skjold, K.
- Story, Bill.
- Straus, Carine.
- Teang, Lydie
- Teang, Rachana.
- Thiery, Josette.
- Tofani, Mauro.
- Torche, Melinda, 47, TWA Flight 800, Irvine, Calif.
- Uzupis, Larissa.
- Vanepps, Lois.
- Verhaeghe, R.L., 48, Goldsboro, N.C.
- Warren, Lani, 48, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
- Watson, Jacqueline.
- Watson, Jill.
- Weaver, Monica.
- Westherby, Thomas.
- Windmiller, Ruben.
- Wolfson, Eleanor.
- Wolfson, Wendy.
- Wolters, Bonnie.
- Yee, Judith.
- Zara, Jean.
- Ziemkiewicz, Jill, 24, TWA Flight 800 crew, Rutherford, N.J.
|
760.130 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | bon marcher, as far as she can tell | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:00 | 4 |
| >I want to know what the purpose was of shipping HIV+ blood on a
>passenger plane.
One would presume to send it from point A to point B.
|
760.131 | but how could it evolve ? | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:04 | 4 |
|
Yoiks ! Now, exploding HIV would be a serious new strain !!!
bb
|
760.132 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:14 | 5 |
| Judy, my point was that there's an excellent chance that there's more HIV+
blood in the passenger compartment than in the cargo hold. When there's
a plane crash, passengers are more likely to come in contact with other
passengers' blood than with blood in the cargo hold. HIV+ blood in the
cargo hold is a red herring.
|
760.133 | Is it an airline, or bio-hazard transport? | MILKWY::JACQUES | | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:21 | 12 |
| Not only would HIV-infected blood be a threat to passengers, but it
also endangers the rescue workers that must now dive to recover the
wreckage. I'm sure the experts will tell us that once the blood hits
the salt water, it dies quickly and is not much of a threat. If this
is the case, I'm sure these same experts will gladly put on a diving
suit and join in the salvage operation.
This is very similar to the Valujet crash where out-dated oxegen
generators were being shipped, in violation of FAA regs. Funny, we
don't hear much about this anymore.
Mark
|
760.134 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:29 | 12 |
| .109
> run ALL
> CARGO and people through our security system.
A bomb secured by adhesives within the cabinet in which a restroom
refuse container is placed is very likely to remain undetected unless
there is an explicit search of the aircraft, not just the passengers
and luggage. Another very good hiding place is the flush drain from an
onboard toilet - stick your hand down, dry the interior surface of the
"sewer" line, and fasten your bomb there, beneath the cute little door
flap and therefore entirely out of sight.
|
760.135 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:33 | 6 |
| I have not seen a single written report that there was any HIV infected
blood being transported in the cargo hold of TWA 800.
Where is this report coming from?
/john
|
760.136 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:34 | 8 |
| > onboard toilet - stick your hand down, dry the interior surface of the
> "sewer" line, and fasten your bomb there, beneath the cute little door
> flap and therefore entirely out of sight.
747s do not employ this sort of toilet. The line is rougly 1.5" in diameter,
and does not have a flap.
/john
|
760.137 | | MOLAR::DELBALSO | I (spade) my (dogface) | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:37 | 2 |
| [Hmmm. Herr Binder seems quite knowledgable about these sorts of things.]
|
760.138 | One of the Valujet DC-9s I was on was _missing_ the flap. Slosh, slosh. | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:41 | 4 |
| What, about sticking his hands into airline toilets? He seems to have only
flown on much older aircraft.
/john
|
760.139 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:46 | 4 |
|
/john too.
either that or they are reading to many Clancy novels.
|
760.140 | Going off half-cocked | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Jul 19 1996 15:49 | 15 |
| Would I pay the extra $10 for security?
NO, and not because I'm cheap. Every passenger already pays 10%
that's ten percent of a ticket to "airline safety".
Ask the tough question... WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING?
Screw the polls and the slanted questions. Most cities raid
the airport funds (from landing fees) set up to improve the airport,
and use the money for other things, like more cops. Now, they want
to raise the landing fee to cover the mismanagement.
This is on top of the 10% safety surcharge.
The solution is NOT to throw money at the problem.
|
760.141 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | bon marcher, as far as she can tell | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:04 | 6 |
| >Not only would HIV-infected blood be a threat to passengers, but it
>also endangers the rescue workers that must now dive to recover the
>wreckage. I'm sure the experts will tell us that once the blood hits
>the salt water, it dies quickly and is not much of a threat.
The ignorance of those determined not to know the facts is stunning.
|
760.142 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:13 | 7 |
| > Not only would HIV-infected blood be a threat to passengers, but it
> also endangers the rescue workers that must now dive to recover the
> wreckage.
Suppose one of the passengers was HIV+. Rescue workers handle bodies.
They're supposed to use appropriate precautions to protect them from
blood-borne infections (as are day-care workers, etc.)
|
760.143 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | we upped our standards now up yours | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:19 | 8 |
| Anybody hear any more about the eyewitness who said he saw a streak of
light flying into the plane in a trajectory similar to that which a
meteorite might take?
That was on NPR this morning, but I haven't heard anything about it
since. I wonder if he meant it came from above the plane and flew into
the plane as if it were falling. I suppose that could be a missile of
some kind, yes?
|
760.144 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:24 | 8 |
|
That was discussed earlier in here. According to the FBI/NTSB what was
seen on the screen was some sort of electronic noise.
Jim
|
760.145 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:36 | 14 |
| I mentioned that. The source was from an Air National Guard Major.
I would assume someone like that knows what he's looking at.
I also noticed some big brass standing behind him while he was talking
to the press.
I also think this is why the confusion will set in. That "blip"
on the radar was probably not the missile, but will be used to
discount this theory.
I suppose the thing to do now is find out what the range of a
stinger or similar missile is, I would THINK it would be more than
13,000 feet, which is about 2.5 miles.
MadMike
|
760.146 | sounds like quite a guy | CTHU26::S_BURRIDGE | | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:36 | 10 |
|
> - Breistroff, Michel, 25, French hockey player who graduated Harvard in
> 1995.
Brief write-up on this guy in local Ottawa paper. It seems he came
over to Quebec to play hockey at 16, then played for a Kanata team for
2 years before winning a full athletic schaolarship to Harvard.
|
760.147 | | CSC32::M_EVANS | I'd rather be gardening | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:42 | 5 |
| New rumor,
Maybe it was a meteor that hit the plane.
Hasn't happened before, but...........
|
760.148 | | WECARE::GRIFFIN | John Griffin zko1-3/b31 381-1159 | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:46 | 8 |
| I did hear on the news last night several mentions of "grief
counselors" attending to the bereaved.
What exactly is a grief counselor? Are they social workers,
psychologists, clergy? Are they volunteers who show up, or are they
called out by the airline?
|
760.149 | never mind the bomb, LIVE REPORTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL! | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:50 | 6 |
| Along with the meteor hitting the plane, notice how the HIV deal
got tossed in. Anything to cloud the issue. Plus, don't worry about
why the plane blew up, check out this video of grief stricken
relatives.... the media is pathetic. We're pathetic for allowing
the media to act this way.
|
760.150 | and another | HBAHBA::HAAS | more madness, less horror | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:50 | 1 |
| Has anyone accounted where Hillary was at the time?
|
760.151 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | we upped our standards now up yours | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:51 | 6 |
| No reason it couldn't have been a meteor. Tis the season, or close
to it. I wonder what the odds would be...
And is a stinger the only missle that could be used? There are
probably lots of different kinds of missles in the hands of all kinds
of groups these days.
|
760.152 | | CSC32::M_EVANS | I'd rather be gardening | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:52 | 6 |
| Grief counseling is a specialty field. The people involved can be
clergy, social workers, psychologists, and others who are willing to
let people unload and give some answers or at least plausable
statements on things that have no answer.
meg
|
760.153 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:53 | 7 |
| > I suppose the thing to do now is find out what the range of a
> stinger or similar missile is, I would THINK it would be more than
> 13,000 feet, which is about 2.5 miles.
3.5 km, or about 11,500 feet.
/john
|
760.154 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:55 | 11 |
| > What exactly is a grief counselor? Are they social workers,
> psychologists, clergy? Are they volunteers who show up, or are they
> called out by the airline?
Could be a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, psychiatric nurse, or
just any jamoke who claims to be a grief counselor. It helps if they've
actually had specific training or experience in the area. AFAIK, there is
no officially licensed designation of "grief counselor," so there probably
aren't any restrictions on who can glom onto the title.
I assume those who were asked to help were licensed for something, though.
|
760.155 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:55 | 10 |
| .151 et al.
> missle
MISSILE
MISSILE
MISSILE
MISSILE
MISSILE
MISSILE
|
760.156 | | GMASEC::KELLY | Queen of the Jungle | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:57 | 1 |
| don't go ballistic, dick!
|
760.157 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 16:59 | 76 |
| This says 4km, which is 13,100 feet, which would not hit a plane flying
at 13,500 feet unless you were extremely lucky.
BTW, my father was project manager for one of Stinger's predecessors,
Redeye.
/john
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stinger
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Stinger is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, infra-red (IR) homing (heat
seeking) air defense guided missile. The Stinger is the only forward area
air defense missile currently employed by US forces. The Stinger is designed
to counter high-speed, low-level, ground attack aircraft.
The Stinger employs a unique Rosette Scan Pattern image scanning technique
that allows it to discriminate among targets, flares, and background
clutter. The Stinger is also unique in that it possesses the Target Adaptive
Guidance (TAG) technique which biases missile orientation toward vulnerable
portions of the aircraft and assures maximized lethality. This superior
lethality is derived from hit-to-kill accuracy, high warhead lethality, and
the impact force of Stinger's kinetic energy generated by speeds of up to
Mach 2.0.
The Stinger also possesses characteristics favorable to today's force
projection Army. The Stinger is highly deployable because it is a
lightweight, self-contained air defense system that can be rapidly deployed
on many military platforms in any combat situation. The Stinger's
Fire-And-Forget ability also increases the survivability of its crew.
Stinger's Fire-And-Forget technology allows gunners and platforms to take
cover or engage new targets immediately after firing. The Stinger Missile
also has a low life-cycle cost. The Stinger is issued as a certified round
of ammunition, so it requires no field maintenance or associated logistical
costs.
The two most popular forms of the Stinger are the Manportable Air Defense
System (MANPADS) and the Standard Vehicle Mounted Launcher (SVML). The
MANPADS system weighs 34.5 pounds and consists of the missile, disposable
launch tube, detachable gripstock, and integral IFF (Identification Friend
or Foe) system. A MANPADS crew consists of a crew chief, gunner, and vehicle
carrying the basic load of missiles. The MANPADS is currently fielded by all
US forces.
The Standard Vehicle Mounted Launcher (SVML) contains four ready-to-fire
Stingers. The Army's Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle (BSFV) provides a
highly lethal weapons system that utilizes the SVML. The Bradley Stinger
Fighting Vehicle provides the maneuver force with a potent air defense
weapon to augment the combined arms team.
The Stinger Missile System has been proven in combat in both Afghanistan,
and in the Persian Gulf. In Afghanistan the basic Stinger downed over 270
Soviet aircraft (a 79% combat success rate), and helped to stop air assault
operations and force Soviet withdrawal. Current Stinger enhancements are
underway to ensure the Stinger's ability to defeat any enemy threat well
into the next century.
Stinger Missile Specifications
Specifications
Guidance Passive IR/UV Homing - Fire and Forget
Navigation Proportional with Lead Bias
Speed Supersonic
Weight 23.0 lbs
Diameter 2.75 inches
Length 60 inches
Range 4 kilometers
Identification Friend or FoeCompatible with US/NATO Equipment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepared by Cadet Bryan Cofer condensed from: Stinger: Family of Weapons
Systems, by the Hughes Missile Systems Company.
|
760.158 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:02 | 72 |
| Note the "ceiling: 10,0000 feet"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[United State Marine Corps Fact File]
Stinger Weapons System: RMP & Basic
Primary function: To provide close-in, surface-to-air weapons for the
defense of forward combat areas, vital areas and installations against low
altitude air attacks.
Manufacturer: General Dynamics /Raytheon Corporation
Propulsion: Dual thrust solid fuel rocket motor
Length: 5 feet (1.5 meters)
Width: 5.5 inches (13.96 centimeters)
Weight: 12.5 pounds (5.68 kilograms)
Weight fully armed: 34.5 pounds (15.66 kg)
Maximum system span: 3.6 inches (9.14 cm)
Range: 1 to 8 kilometers
Sight ring: 10 mils
Fuzing: Penetration, impact, self destruct
Ceiling: 10,000 feet (3.046 kilometers)
Speed: Supersonic in flight
Units: Low-Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalions: 3 active duty, 2 reserve
Crew: 2 enlisted
Guidance system: Fire-and-forget passive infrared seeker
Warheads: High explosive
Rate of fire: 1 missile every 3 to 7 seconds
Type of fire: "Fire-and-Forget" (See Features below)
Sensors: Passive infrared
Introduction date: 1987
Unit Replacement Cost: $38,000
Mission: Provide close-in surface to air weapons fire for the defense of
forward combat areas, vital areas, and installations against low altitude
air attacks.
Features: The Stinger is a man-portable, shoulder-fired guided missile
system which enables the Marine to effectively engage low-altitude jet,
propeller-driven and helicopter aircraft. Developed by the United States
Army Missile Command, the Stinger was the successor to the Redeye Weapon
System. The system is a "fire-and-forget" weapon employing a passive
infrared seeker and proportional navigation system. Stinger also is designed
for the threat beyond the 1990s, with an all-aspect engagement capability,
and IFF (Identification-Friend-or-Foe), improved range and maneuverability,
and significant countermeasures immunity. The missile, packaged within its
disposable launch tube, is delivered as a certified round, requiring no
field testing or direct support maintenance. A separable, reusable gripstock
is attached to the round prior to use and may be used again. STINGER will
also be employed by the Pedestal-Mounted Stinger Air Defense Vehicle and the
Light Armored Vehicle, Air Defense Variant (LAV-AD) duri
ng the 1990s.
Inventory: 13,431 missiles
Background: During the 1960s the Marine Corps introduced its first
lightweight shoulder fired surface-to-air missile, the Redeye. During June
1966 the Redeye school was activated at Marine Corps Base, 29 Palms
California. By Sept. 1966, a Redeye platoon was placed in each stateside
Marine division. This gave Marine commanders a viable air-defense capability
that could be deployed to any area of the battlefield.
The Redeye missile served throughout the 1970's before giving way to the
more technologically advanced Stinger missile in 1982. The Stingers "all
aspect" engagement capability was a major improvement over the Redeye. In
1989 an improved Stinger, equipped with a reprogrammable microprocessor
(RPM), was fielded by the Marine Corps. The RPM is a modular enhancement
which allows the Stinger to engage and destroy more sophisticated air
threats.
POC: Headquarters Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs, 2 Navy Annex,
Washington, DC 20380-1775; (703) 614-1492.
Date last modified: 11/30/95
|
760.159 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:05 | 11 |
| Q:
Is the range the total flight distance, or the effective radius of initial
sighting from which it can hit things? The latter might imply chasing
things outside of the four miles.
Q2:
What's the latest Ruskie equivalent do? Or, are we talkin' something as
unwieldy as a shoulder mounted SCUD here? (conjures pictures of Al
Franken's "Helmet Satellite Link.")
|
760.160 | But I think we have enough Stinger info to discount that. | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:10 | 8 |
| BTW, I suspect TWA is hoping against hope that it's proven to be a missile
(generic term including meteors), because that would absolve them from any
lawsuits and guarantee full insurance payout for a machine that was to be
replaced over the next couple of years anyway.
PA 103 was the end of Pan Am, in large measure due to litigation.
/john
|
760.161 | | MKOTS3::JMARTIN | Madison...5'2'' 95 lbs. | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:11 | 2 |
| Actually, wouldn't it be a meteorite?
|
760.162 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:13 | 2 |
| A meteorite is a meteor which reaches the surface of the earth without being
completely vaporized.
|
760.163 | | EDSCLU::JAYAKUMAR | | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:14 | 17 |
| If a terrorist group "claims" they did this for whatever cause, and if its
indeed true, then they LOSE big time.
All the international condemnation, loss of sympathy and support, and
determined increased tougher actions against them by the affected nation[US].
The single most incident which helped India in curbing Sikh terrorist in Punjab
was the Air-India 747 bombing off the coast of Ireland. Almost overnight they
lost the sympathy and support of Canada and Britain. Their downfall started
when the plane went down.
On the other hand if the terrorists remain silent and don't take credit to
this incident then they just don't GAIN anything.
So either way they get to lose. In the 90s, bombing planes will only
backfire just as the highjackings have lost their charm.
/Jay
|
760.164 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:15 | 6 |
| So, you can only be hit by a meteorite if it bounces or someone picks it up
and throws it at you.
On the way down, it's still a meteor.
/john
|
760.165 | The technology is "there"... but not "here" | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:17 | 197 |
| In case the explosion does indeed prove to have been caused by a bomb
planted on the aircraft, then the articles that I've attached here may
be of interest. They involve the development (with your tax dollars and
mine) and deployment of a sensitive, fast and effective explosives detection
device called EGIS, developed and manufactured right here in Massachusetts
by Thermedics Detection, whose president has been interviewed by the media
several times in the last couple of days for obvious reasons.
EGIS is deployed in airports all over the world... except in the U.S.A.,
of course. Why? After all, we did pay in large part for its development.
And we continue to pay for its delivery and installation all over the world,
most recently by Bill Clinton in an unusually decisive and rapid response to
terrorist acts in a foreign country only a few months ago (see the last of
three attached articles).
Will Bill Clinton be as eager to insist on the delivery and installation
of EGIS systems in American airports as well, if this latest terrorist act
on U.S. territory proves to involve a detectable and possibly-preventable
bomb?
===============================================================================
THERMEDICS DETECTION RECEIVES ORDER TO COMPLETE DEPLOYMENT OF EGIS
EXPLOSIVES DETECTORS IN GERMANY
WOBURN, Mass., April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermedics Inc. (AMEX: TMD)
announced that its Thermedics Detection Inc. subsidiary has received an
additional order for two EGIS(R) bomb detectors that completes the
original deployment of these units to Germany, initiated in 1991.
Shipment of this order will bring the total number of systems deployed
to German airports to 50. EGIS offers highly advanced technology for
detecting trace levels of a wide spectrum of military and commercial
explosives.
"The extensive deployment of our systems in Germany -- our biggest
EGIS customer -- signifies the high level of security in airports
throughout that country. With widespread use overseas, we have by far
the largest installed base of systems to provide trace detection of
explosives in airports," said Jeff Langan, newly appointed president of
Thermedics Detection. "Our systems are installed in 40 overseas
airports, and are enhancing security in 21 countries, including Germany,
Israel, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom."
Thermedics Detection first developed EGIS in 1986 with funding from
the U.S. Department of State and other government agencies for the
specific purpose of detecting and identifying explosives used in car
bombings, following the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. The EGIS
system has successfully proven its ability to detect unique chemical
identifiers, also known as taggants. These identifiers were first
adopted two years ago under an international treaty. The antiterrorism
legislation approved by Congress last week mandates the use of taggants
in the manufacture of plastic explosives.
This March, EGIS units were flown to Israel, following President
Clinton's announcement that the U.S. would provide technical aid and
training to show support for the Middle East peace process. EGIS
systems were first deployed to Israel in 1991, and several were
installed at border crossings a year ago.
Thermedics develops, manufactures, and markets product quality
assurance systems, precision-weighing and inspection equipment,
electrochemistry and microweighing products, electronic test
instruments, and explosives-detection devices, as well as implantable
heart-assist devices and other biomedical products. Thermedics is a
public subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corporation (NYSE: TMO).
===============================================================================
THERMEDICS EGIS BOMB DETECTORS DEPLOYED TO ISRAEL
WOBURN, Mass., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermedics Detection Inc., a
wholly owned subsidiary of Thermedics Inc. (AMEX: TMD), has supplied the
U.S. government with EGIS(R) explosives-detection systems to provide
counterterrorism support in Israel. President Clinton announced
yesterday that the U.S. would send bomb-detection equipment and
technical aid and training to show U.S. support for Israel and the
Middle East peace process. EGIS offers a highly advanced, on-site system
for detecting trace levels of explosives in less than one minute.
"The recent bombings are tragic reminders of Israel's need for the
highest level of security. We hope that our EGIS systems will help to
prevent future tragedies as the U.S. and Israel work together to combat
terrorism in the Middle East," said John W. Wood Jr., president and
chief executive officer of Thermedics.
EGIS was developed in 1986 with funding from the U.S. Department of
State and other government agencies for the specific purpose of
detecting and identifying explosives used in car bombings, following the
attack on the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. EGIS units were first deployed to
Israel in 1991, and several were installed at border crossings a year
ago, following a multi-year test program sponsored by the Israel
Airports Authority. To date, the system is installed in 40 airports
overseas and in use in 21 countries, including Germany, Switzerland,
Israel, and the United Kingdom.
Thermedics develops, manufactures, and markets product quality
assurance systems, precision weighing and inspection equipment,
electrochemistry and microweighing products, electronic test
instruments, and explosives-detection devices, as well as implantable
heart-assist devices and other biomedical products. Thermedics is a
public subsidiary of Thermo Electron Corporation (NYSE: TMO).
NOTE: Thermo Electron's latest news releases are available at no
charge by dialing 800-758-5804, ext. 877850, or at
http://www.prnewswire.com on the Internet.
===============================================================================
US sends Israel bomb-detection gear
By Paul Quinn-Judge, Globe Staff, 03/06/96
WASHINGTON - A first shipment of bomb-detection equipment left Hanscom
Field for Israel yesterday morning as the White House rushed to signal
its support for Prime Minister Shimon Peres and the Middle East peace
process in the wake of four terrorist bombings.
President Clinton said the aid was intended to ``support the fight
against future terrorist attacks, to bring killers to justice and to
rally support for peace in the Middle East.'' More would be on the way
soon, he added.
In a separate statement to the Israeli people, made later yesterday,
Clinton also stressed the need not to abandon the peace process.
``The road ahead will not be easy, but think how far you have come,''
he said. ``Bullets and bombs must not prevail against the will for
peace, and they will not.''
The White House refused to provide any details of yesterday's shipment
to Israel, other than saying that it had been hastily assembled
overnight by the CIA. Sources, however, said the bulk of the shipment
consisted of extremely sensitive explosive sensing systems built by
Thermedics Inc. of Woburn.
The equipment, said by Pentagon sources to consist of eight units, was
pulled out of Thermedics' stores after ``a flurry of overnight calls''
from the government, the company's president, John Wood, said in a
telephone interview.
Officials in Washington say the devices, which cost $200,000 each, were
probably paid out of CIA director John Deutch's contingency funds.
Other equipment is in the pipeline. Israel is reported to have
presented what one official called a ``wish list'' to the US government
late Monday night, about 12 hours after the latest suicide bomber
killed 13 people in Tel Aviv. Israel has also reportedly asked for
other types of detection devices, as well as fixed and mobile X-ray
machines to examine large and small parcels.
In addition to ``highly sophisticated detection equipment,'' Clinton
said, US specialists would be sent to work with both the Israelis and
the Palestinians. Some specialists would help strengthen antiterrorism
measures. Others, he said, would provide training, technical assistance
and more equipment, with the aim of improving ``antiterrorism
cooperation among Israel, the Palestinians and other governments in the
region.''
Defense officials expressed doubts, however, that the United States
could provide Israel with much intelligence on the Islamic Resistance
Movement, Hamas, which has been linked to the bombings.
``I suspect that we get much of what we know about Hamas from Israel,''
a senior official said.
Hamas is said to be funded by Iran and by sympathizers in the Gulf
States and the United States. It operates from Jordan, Gaza and parts
of Israel.
The series of attacks that have killed at least 57 people and left
about 200 more wounded have all apparently been the work of Hamas.
In addition to the demoralizing death toll, the bombs have inflicted
serious political damage on Peres and Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian
leader. The stated US willingness to improve counterterrorism
cooperation between Israel and the Palestinians appears designed to
underline Washington's continued support for both men and the peace
process they have espoused.
But US officials from Secretary of State Warren M. Christopher on down
also made it clear that Washington would support any measures the
Israelis might take to retaliate.
Speaking on Capitol Hill yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole of
Kansas expressed support for Israel but skepticism about the
Palestinians. ``Unless and until Arafat does more to crack down on
terrorism,'' Dole said, ``there might be an effort by some to cut off
aid to the Palestinian Authority.''
The sensing equipment sent to Israel yesterday consists of a small
container about the size of a foot locker, with an attached, hand-held
device. The system, known as Egis, takes air samples and then analyzes
whether any explosives are present, and if so what type and how much.
The Thermedics president said the machines were capable of detecting
dynamite, TNT and its derivatives as well as plastic explosives like
the US-made C-4 or Czech-made Semtex. The machines were developed in
the mid-1980s with support from the State Department and the Federal
Aviation Administration, and are now in use in a number of airports
worldwide. Thermedics shipped the first machines to Israel in 1991; at
least 10 are in use there.
This story ran on page 5 of the Boston Globe on 03/06/96.
|
760.166 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:20 | 15 |
| Hem and haw:
AP Headline:
Top safety official leans toward possibility of
criminal act in TWA crash
Quotes:
"The possibility of a criminal act is a distinct one," Robert Francis,
vice chairman of the NTSB, told CNN.
But appearing earlier on the NBC "Today" show, Francis said "there's no
evidence of a crime yet."
|
760.167 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:21 | 6 |
| .164
> On the way down, it's still a meteor.
Wrong. A meteor is the visible trail left in the atmosphere by a
meteoroid. A meteorite is a meteoroid that has reached the surface.
|
760.168 | | DECWIN::JUDY | That's *Ms. Bitch* to you! | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:28 | 6 |
|
re: .135 John
As I stated in my earlier reply, I saw it on the 11:00 news
last night, on channel 5.
|
760.169 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:43 | 4 |
| > Wrong. A meteor is the visible trail left in the atmosphere by a
> meteoroid. A meteorite is a meteoroid that has reached the surface.
Let's just call them "space rocks."
|
760.170 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 17:54 | 10 |
| G.C. Merriam-Webster
Meteor:
1 : an atmospheric phenomenon (as lightning or a snowfall)
2 a : any of the small particles of matter in the solar system that are
directly observable only by their incandescence from frictional heating
on entry into the atmosphere
b : the streak of light produced by the passage of a meteor
|
760.171 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Fri Jul 19 1996 18:08 | 2 |
|
oh, quit trying to out do each other. a meteor didn't hit the plane.
|
760.172 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 19 1996 18:10 | 6 |
|
> oh, quit trying to out do each other. a meteor didn't hit the plane.
Meteorite
|
760.173 | Meteor? Right!~ | HBAHBA::HAAS | more madness, less horror | Fri Jul 19 1996 18:12 | 0 |
760.175 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 18:20 | 23 |
| Report from Paris (edited)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reuter
PARIS (7-19-96) - TWA spokesman Gilbert Dennemont described as "pure
speculation" French media reports which said investigators were
increasingly convinced the plane was victim of a terror attack, possibly
downed by a surface-to-air missile fired from the American coast or from a
ship at sea.
He was pressed with questions about TWA's security measures which he
declined to answer except to say, "TWA will never compromise on security. We
would rather delay a flight rather than waive any security requirements."
He said TWA's security was initially handled by an Israeli firm. It was now
in the hands of an American company specially set up for the purpose and
trained by Israelis who have a long record of tight airline security
measures.
He said the crash had apparently had no impact on bookings. Of three
scheduled flights from Paris Thursday, one was full and two others on
wide-bodied jets each had about 10 seats free.
|
760.178 | File under "Verifiable Predictions" | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Jul 19 1996 18:38 | 8 |
| > However, they also said, "If this was a criminal act, we will find the
> cowards who did this."
*******
See 760.120, Step 3. I have a feeling I'll be saying this a lot in the
days and weeks ahead.
Chris
|
760.179 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 18:40 | 5 |
| Well, of course.
After all, who's in jail for bringing down PA 103?
/john
|
760.180 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 18:41 | 1 |
| Naw. Maybe you'll get to say "Step 4," too.
|
760.181 | I took the Tel Aviv to Paris leg of the return (TW 803) 2 Dec 92 | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:34 | 63 |
| Ahah!
I thought that TWA 800 was the Tel Aviv flight. Now it's beginning to make
some sense. This attack was possibly planned by someone who was unaware of
the schedule change:
Israeli terror experts reportedly seeking TWA crash link
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Copyright Nando.net
Reuters
JERUSALEM - Israeli terrorism experts are looking for possible links between
Muslim militants and the explosion of TWA flight 800, the newspaper Haaretz
said on Friday.
In its top story the Israeli newspaper quoted an unidentified senior
security source as saying Israel was helping U.S. intelligence agencies and
the FBI in every way it could in their investigation of Wednesday's crash.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declined comment on the report.
But Israeli security sources told Reuters that Israel routinely cooperates
on such matters with the United States, its closest ally.
"Israel is checking whether there is any sort of connection between the
explosion to Islamic terror organisations," the newspaper reported.
In the United States, officials battled speculation that sabotage caused the
Boeing 747 to burst into a ball of fire and crash with 230 passengers into
the Atlantic Ocean shortly after it took off from New York for Paris.
TWA said flight 800 used to go on from Paris to Tel Aviv, but the Israel leg
was discontinued in January. Israel Radio said two Israelis were among the
passengers killed. A breakdown of the passengers' nationalities released by
TWA contained no Israelis.
Israeli officials have not drawn any connection between the air disaster,
one of the worst in U.S. history, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. They say
they have yet to determine whether it was an accident or an attack.
"We still don't know if this is an attack," Israeli Brigadier-General Yigal
Pressler, Netanyahu's adviser on counter-terrorism, told Israel Radio. But
he cited previous attempts he said involved Iran, Syria and Libya.
He said some airports and airlines were not as diligent as Israelis in
conducting security checks.
In Paris, TWA spokesman Gilbert Dennemont told reporters that TWA's security
was initially handled by an Israeli firm. It was now in the hands of an
American company specially set up for the purpose and trained by Israelis
who had a long record of tight airline security measures.
Dennemont described as "pure speculation" French media reports which said
investigators were increasingly convinced the plane was the target of an
attack, possibly downed by a surface-to-air missile fired from the American
coast or from a ship at sea.
The senior security source told Haaretz that sabotage could only be
ascertained once all of the debris was collected.
The source cited unspecified recent warnings of a possible attack on a plane
and said: "All the signs point to a bomb having been planted on the plane."
|
760.176 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:35 | 15 |
| > someone just told me that CNN is reporting that shortly the FBI will
> announce evidence of a bomb. ...
During a briefing _just_this_minute_concluded_, the FBI just said that they
were not yet prepared to take this over as a criminal investigation yet.
However, they also said, "If this was a criminal act, we will find the
cowards who did this."
Apparently the earlier CNN report was the result of some lower level FBI
person (anonymous, of course) who believed he had enough evidence of a
bomb, but his bosses aren't quite ready to take over and let the NTSB go
home.
/john
|
760.182 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:41 | 7 |
| What 800 used to do was alternate between Tel Aviv and Cairo,
and I flew on the Paris to Cairo leg on 21 Nov 92, and the
Tel Aviv to Paris return (TW 803) on 2 Dec 92.
Now we have the Middle Eastern link.
/john
|
760.183 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:43 | 2 |
| /john, do you really think a terrorist planting a bomb wouldn't know the
current flight schedule?
|
760.184 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:47 | 1 |
| Dunno. Some of them don't know to use an alias when renting a truck.
|
760.185 | TW 800 was a flight number that was in their minds | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:47 | 7 |
| Yes. Like I said, it may have been planned before the schedule change.
And in any case, TWA uses multiple flight numbers on their flights;
TW 800 from JFK to CDG to CAI used the same aircraft from CDG to CAI
as TW 840 from IAD to CDG to CAI.
/john
|
760.186 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:49 | 8 |
|
Didn't flight 800 originate elsewhere in the US as a different aircraft
type?
Jim
|
760.187 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:51 | 3 |
| Yes, Flight 800 originated in LA. The aircraft that was used for flight
800 from NY to Paris had just arrived from Athens. Who knows what the
flight number was when it left Athens?
|
760.188 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:52 | 9 |
| Yes. Los Angeles.
It's sort of a scam to save ticketing costs; there's only one ticket
issued even if there may be one or two plane changes.
At check-in you're issued boarding passes for each segment, which is
when you find out that your trip is more complicated than you thought.
/john
|
760.189 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Fri Jul 19 1996 19:58 | 16 |
| <<< Note 760.127 by DECWIN::JUDY "That's *Ms. Bitch* to you!" >>>
> The way I understood it, there was HIV+ infected blood on
> the plane, NOT in a human body on the plane. I want to
> know what the purpose was of shipping HIV+ blood on a passenger
> plane.
It's called "air cargo". Such cargo is regularly carried on passenger
planes.
Next to the US, the most advanced lab working on an AIDS cure is
the Pasteur Institute (in fact they were the first to ID the virus).
Jim
|
760.190 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:02 | 5 |
| re .187
TW 881 ATH 12:30p JFK 3:50p
/john
|
760.191 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:04 | 3 |
| If you survived the initial fireball and the several-thousand foot plunge,
and if you didn't get infected by the blood of a fellow passenger, wouldn't
it be ironic if you got infected by the pint of HIV+ blood in the cargo hold?
|
760.192 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:04 | 16 |
| <<< Note 760.151 by RUSURE::GOODWIN "we upped our standards now up yours" >>>
> And is a stinger the only missle that could be used? There are
> probably lots of different kinds of missles in the hands of all kinds
> of groups these days.
The Stinger is mentioned because there are a bunch of them out
there (your tax dollars at work) and it is the most advanced
"man-portable" anti-aircraft missle. There are LOTS of other
anti-aircraft missles, most of which have the range capability
needed. However they also need much more sophisticated launch
facilities (IE. a Patriot missle batter or an Aegis cruiser).
Jim
|
760.193 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:06 | 3 |
| re .192:
See .155. I thank you.
|
760.194 | Altitude adjustment | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:35 | 7 |
| Has a definite altitude at the time of the explosion been established?
I've heard (approximately) 13,000 feet, 10,000 feet, and 8,000 feet.
In one report, people aboard the small plane(s) that witnessed the
explosion claimed that the 747 was slightly below them in altitude,
and that the small planes themselves were at around 8,000 feet.
Chris
|
760.195 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | we upped our standards now up yours | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:36 | 3 |
| So could a missle have been fired from one of the small planes that
were around?
|
760.196 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:38 | 9 |
|
I heard some talking head say last night that the airplane was at 13000
feet, however began to descend and the explosion occured at ~8500ft.
Jim
|
760.197 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:39 | 1 |
| Prolly a papist flung a missal at the plane.
|
760.198 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:40 | 1 |
| this just in: no survivors have been found.
|
760.199 | This should've been two separate replies, but I was lazy | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:42 | 14 |
| > I heard some talking head say last night that the airplane was at 13000
> feet, however began to descend and the explosion occured at ~8500ft.
Really?... Why would it begin to descend? Shouldn't it be ascending?
re: Stinger missile
Q: What's the difference between a Stinger and a Springer?
A: One has hot flaming exhaust coming out of an opening at one end,
and the other one is a missile.
Chris
|
760.200 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:52 | 15 |
|
> > I heard some talking head say last night that the airplane was at 13000
> > feet, however began to descend and the explosion occured at ~8500ft.
> Really?... Why would it begin to descend? Shouldn't it be ascending?
I think he was on the mechanical/structure catostrophic failure side
of the field, hypothesizing that the failure occured and the plane
began to descend as a result and then the catostrophic part kicked in.
Jim
|
760.201 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:53 | 3 |
|
Springer is a talk show host?
|
760.202 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:54 | 3 |
| > this just in: no survivors have been found.
Prolly the HIV+ blood in the cargo hold did them in.
|
760.203 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Fri Jul 19 1996 20:55 | 7 |
|
occurred
catastrophic
do not even consider thanking me
|
760.204 | military exercise? | TINCUP::ague.cxo.dec.com::ague | http://www.usa.net/~ague | Fri Jul 19 1996 21:35 | 7 |
| Wednesday night, a few hours after the incident, CNN was reporting that a
C-130 was doing exercises in the area, shooting flares and whatever else,
in the same area and at the same time TWA800 passed through. I have not
heard this repeated since then. Has anyone else? Could a half-spent flare
bring a 747 down?
-- Jim
|
760.205 | At least not catastrophically | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 19 1996 21:38 | 5 |
| >Could a half-spent flare bring a 747 down?
Not a chance.
/john
|
760.206 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | I'm out of p-name ideas | Fri Jul 19 1996 23:16 | 4 |
| Saw the spokesman for the FBI's anti-terrorist task force on CNN
last night. He seemed to be particularly squirrelly regarded the
SAM issue. Almost like he was trying to evade the questions, or to
cover something up.
|
760.207 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Sat Jul 20 1996 00:01 | 8 |
| <<< Note 760.194 by DECWIN::RALTO "Jail to the Chief" >>>
> Has a definite altitude at the time of the explosion been established?
> I've heard (approximately) 13,000 feet, 10,000 feet, and 8,000 feet.
According the the altitude reporting radar, 13,700 feet.
Jim
|
760.208 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Sat Jul 20 1996 03:28 | 18 |
|
re .204
if that is the same c-130 I heard about, the pilots said they were ~14 miles
away and several thousand feet below the TWA aircraft.
According to reports tonight, less than 1% of the wreckage has been recovered
Jim
|
760.209 | Claims of responsibility & other theories | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Jul 20 1996 14:41 | 30 |
| From news reports:
CBS reported that a Lebanese man on a list of people with connections to
terrorist organizations was supposed to be on board the doomed plane when
it left Athens for New York, but missed the flight.
In a similar report, The Times of London quoted an unnamed State Department
official as saying a "known Arab terrorist" was allowed to board TWA flight
800 at Athens, although he was escorted off the plane before it took off.
State Department spokeswoman Elaine McDevitt said it was "the first we've
heard" of any of the reports, and couldn't confirm them.
Another report suggested a link to Ramzi Yousef, who is on trial in New
York federal court, accused of plotting to blow up 12 West Coast-bound
airliners in a single day in 1995. Unidentified sources quoted Friday by
ABC News said a group tied to Yousef contacted a federal agency and claimed
responsibility. The FBI, the State Department and the Justice Department
could not confirm that report.
Yousef, 29, who claims innocence and is representing himself at trial, is
accused of being the mastermind of the February 1993 World Trade Center
blast as well.
A more macabre theory suggested during ABC's "Nightline" program is that an
explosive could have been planted in a cooler in which an organ for
transplant was carried. Flight 800 was said to have carried a cooler that
arrived at the ticket counter at the last minute. Coolers with such organs
are not traditionally run through X-ray machines and usually are put in the
cockpit, ABC said.
|
760.210 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Jul 20 1996 14:52 | 61 |
760.211 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sun Jul 21 1996 13:21 | 327 |
760.212 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sun Jul 21 1996 13:27 | 95 |
| July 21 1996, London Sunday Times
Motives and means point to Middle East
As the likelihood of sabotage on board flight 800 increased this weekend,
American intelligence experts were questioning their sources in the Middle
East, home to organisations with both the motive and the technical
capability to mount such an attack.
The search will not be easy. Those who might have carried it out live
underground, suspicious of all comers, communicating only to a few. Their
havens are countries such as Iran, Sudan and Afghanistan, almost
impenetrable to Americans. "If it is a terrorist act we then have the
challenge of finding the cowards who carried it out," said Jim Kallstrom,
the FBI agent in charge of New York's anti-terrorism taskforce.
Many such attacks are never claimed by those who organised them. Nobody
ever claimed responsibility for bringing down Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie in
1988. The most likely explanation for that bombing is that Iran paid
intermediaries to blow up an American plane in retaliation for the
accidental shooting down by the United States of an Iran Air passenger jet.
There will be a hint of a trail this time, however. Should the explosion
be found to have been caused by a bomb, the culprit is almost certain to be
an organisation rather than an individual. A sophisticated network is
needed to plan, obtain documentation and explosives, build a bomb, and get
the device aboard a plane. Suspicion has focused on the Middle East with
good reason. TWA is a long established American airline, seen in the
Middle East as a symbol of the United States. The timing of the attack, if
it was one, was symbolic as well: on the eve of the Olympic Games in
Atlanta.
Middle Eastern terrorist groups are virulently opposed to American policies
in the region, both for US support for Israel and for what they see as its
opposition to Islam. Unlike the 1970s, when those who hijacked and bombed
were secular nationalists, Middle Eastern terrorism is now linked to
militant Islamic fundamentalism. Its adherents see their acts as blows
struck in a jihad, or holy war.
The specific aims of the different groups depend on their origin. One
group that must be considered a prime suspect is called the Movement for
Islamic Change. This is thought to be a flag of convenience for a loosely
connected network of fundamentalist Saudis who oppose the basing of
American troops on "holy" Saudi soil and seek to replace the Al-Saud family
with a government that would adhere more strictly to Islamic law.
The name was first heard when the Movement for Islamic Change claimed
responsibility for an attack on the American-run military training centre
in Riyadh in November. Five Americans and two Indians were killed. When
four young Saudi men were beheaded for their part in the attack, the group
vowed revenge. The June 25 bombing of Dhahran military barracks, in which
19 American soldiers were killed and more than 350 injured, is thought to
have been in retaliation for the execution of the four bombers.
It will be difficult to track down who is behind the Movement for Islamic
Change. There is no hierarchical structure. The best-known supporter is
Omar Bin Laden, an exiled Saudi from a wealthy family who took up arms
against the regime. He recently left Sudan for a remote mountain village
in Afghanistan. In a recent interview he warned that American interests
would be attacked if US troops did not leave Saudi Arabia. The name of the
Movement for Islamic Change emerged seven hours before the crash of Flight
800 in a statement, neatly typed in Arabic on a computer, that slipped out
of the fax machine at the London office of Al-Hayat, the Arabic newspaper.
There was no indication of where it had been sent from.
It threatened an attack on an American target if the US "invaders" did not
leave Saudi Arabia. In retrospect, the words were chillng.
"The Mujaheddin [Islamic fighters] will make a very heavy response to the
threats of the stupid American president," the statement read. "The
invaders must prepare to leave, dead or alive. The deadline date is
tomorrow, and tomorrow is very near."
Suspicion has also fallen on Hamas, the organisation of Islamic
fundamentalist Palestinians who oppose Israel and hence American backing
for the Jewish state. The organisation has technical expertise and has
shown by its use of suicide bombers against Israeli targets that it has the
will. Hamas opposes the agreement between Israel and the Palestinian
authority led by Yasser Arafat, which recognised Israel's existence and
returned the West Bank and Gaza to Palestinian control. Hamas has launched
a jihad that it says will continue until all the land of the British
mandate Palestine is liberated.
Although Hamas has never attacked an American target, Mousa Abu Marzouk,
its charismatic leader, is in prison in New York. Hamas issued a statement
threatening revenge if Abu Marzouk, arrested on arrival in New York last
year under a law banning people with ties to terrorist activities, was
extradited to Israel. The extradition appears imminent and could be the
reason for the timing of any attack on an American target.
Others who must come under suspicion are supporters of Sheikh Omar
Abdel-Rahman, the blind Islamic cleric serving a life sentence in New York
for his involvement in plotting the bombing of the World Trade Center. In
a speech before sentencing, he attacked America for "waging a war against
Islam".
|
760.213 | | TEXAS1::SOBECKY | It's complicated. | Sun Jul 21 1996 19:58 | 12 |
|
I don't understand why it's taking the searchers so long to identify a
large chunk of something detected on the ocean floor this morning. The
'something' was detected by sonar. According to the spokesperson on CNN
there is a systematic procedure: first, find it with sonar, then view
it with underwater cameras, then send divers down.
It seems to me that divers would have been in there as soon as the
sonar detected something. The water is only 100-120 feet deep, and the
weather conditions today are relatively calm.
John
|
760.214 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sun Jul 21 1996 20:17 | 37 |
| French reporters slip by New York airport checks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Copyright the News & Observer Publishing Co.
(c) Reuters
PARIS (July 21, 1996) - A French radio reporter said on Sunday he and a
colleague exposed security gaps at New York's Kennedy airport by slipping
past guards into a departure lounge three days after a Paris-bound TWA jet
exploded after takeoff.
"We weren't checked. If we'd been carrying a bomb, we could have given it to
an accomplice boarding the plane," the France Info reporter told the radio.
He said he and a reporter from Radio France Internationale (RFI), without
tickets and eluding security, got into the TWA departure lounge at Kennedy
airport from which the doomed flight took off.
All 230 people aboard TWA flight 800 from New York to Paris died on
Wednesday when the plane exploded in a fireball over the Atlantic just after
takeoff. Investigators hint they believe a bomb caused the crash but say it
is too early to be sure.
The reporter said the two, at the airport on Saturday to meet relatives of
French victims arriving from Paris, got in by walking against the flow of
passengers leaving the terminal.
Whenever they came to a closed door, they waited for passengers to emerge
and then slipped past, eventually reaching gate 25 where passengers were
boarding a flight bound for Puerto Rico. The reporter said they took
photographs to prove the story.
France Info and RFI are publicly-run stations.
France Info also said that the number of French citizens among the dead had
been revised up to 45 from 42 initially listed, according to the French
consulate in New York.
|
760.215 | Weakest link in so-called airport security | MARIN::WANNOOR | | Sun Jul 21 1996 22:14 | 29 |
|
I have been constantly appalled at the security in ANY domestic
airport; security-related technology notwithstanding. Have you
noticed the caliber of the so-called security personnel manning
the checkpoints? They behave nonchalantly and they do (pardon me
if this sounds harsh) work like non-educated labor force one would
usually find in janotorial services, for example.
In SFO, I have come across a few who don't speak English; others
who hardly even looked at the xray screen as my baggage went across,
and who, by and large, do not inspire any safety confidence that
they know want they are doing. They're are mostly bored and indifferent.
Granted some liked the "power" bestowed the uniform, but hey, that's
Ok if they are really their job.
So for such a critical "front-line" job, should the workers be
paid minimum wage (their behaviour certainly suggested it)??
Certainly this is one weak link in security measures that defeats
whatever technology already put in place.
The other "check the box" item that is a joke are the inquiries
"Did any stranger hand you anything to carry" and "Did you pack
your own bags and these bags have been in your possession at all
times"... get real! Would a bogeyman answer NO to any of these
questions?? For PR purposes I guess these inquiries may serve
some comforting purposes, but it is pretty stupid in my opinion.
|
760.216 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Sun Jul 21 1996 22:39 | 10 |
|
> So for such a critical "front-line" job, should the workers be
> paid minimum wage
Seems to be par-for-course. Check out EMT positions sometime. $7hr
to expose yourself to all kinds of nasty diseases, weapons carrying
druggies, etc....
jim
|
760.217 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 02:45 | 127 |
760.218 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 04:33 | 87 |
| Divers Wait as Devices Scan Ocean
By Jerry Markon, Bill Bleyer and Al Baker
Staff Writers, Newsday.
In the early stages of combing the ocean floor for wreckage of TWA Flight
800, one thing is becoming clear: the machines rule.
Navy divers had been sitting in the Coast Guard command center, kept away
from the crash site until a boat trip there yesterday afternoon.
Even then, they didn't get in the water, and probably won't for several
more days, federal officials said.
The key players instead have been an underwater sonar that looks like a
sled; a self-propelled robot bearing video cameras, and a tube-shaped
device that has been listening for a pinging from the ocean bottom.
They're all part of what federal authorities say is a plan designed first
to find the plane's crucial two ``black boxes'' - and only then bring the
wreckage and more than 100 additional bodies up from the ocean floor. The
Navy began the second stage yesterday, abandoning the pinging device in
favor of the underwater sonar.
Some private salvagers are skeptical of the process.
``They should be down there diving,'' said Capt. Stephen Bielenda, who owns
the Wahoo, a diving boat operating out of Captree State Park that has done
salvage operations. ``All we heard about is the black box, the black box,
but the most important thing they should be doing is finding those bodies
to show the families some respect.''
Bielenda disagreed with the assessment of ocean conditions by federal
officials, some of whom said bad weather had barred getting divers in the
water. ``They said it was too rough out there, but my boat had 27 divers in
the water on Saturday,'' he said.
Even with the weather improved, officials now say it makes no sense to send
divers down until the machines have pinpointed key pieces of wreckage.
``We'll send them down when we want to send them down, but we want to make
sure it's justified,'' Robert Francis, vice chairman of the National
Transportation Safety Board, told reporters Saturday night.
Navy Capt. Chip McCord, chief of the Navy's diving operations on site,
added yesterday: ``In this first phase of recovering the black boxes and
mapping the debris field, the preferred method would be not to use the Navy
divers. It's quicker and better the other way.''
That other way, until yesterday, had focused on finding the black boxes
with the Navy's Pinger Locator System, a tube-shaped device, attached to a
boat, that has a sensitive underwater microphone to scan the water for
``pinging'' sounds emitted by the black boxes.
Yesterday afternoon, as the search for the black boxes continued
unsucessfully, officials gave up on the pinger. McCord said signals from
the black boxes have not been heard because the devices are broken,
destroyed or covered with sand or other material.
Instead, the search switched to what had been planned as its second phase:
the side-scan sonar. A sled-like device that's towed on a cable behind a
ship, the sonar scans the ocean bottom and emits sound signals that make a
map as seen from the ocean floor.
The result is a silhouette clear enough to distinguish plane wreckage - and
map the entire field of debris so authorities can figure out where to focus
their resources. The map could also reveal the plane's tail section, where
the boxes were installed, officials said.
``It's important to remember that the more we know about what is underwater
by using the equipment we have, the more that can be done when we put
divers in the water,'' Navy Lt. Commander Gordon Hume said.
After the mapping - which is expected to take several days - divers will
likely enter the water to start bringing up bodies and debris. They will
attach cables and help guide large pieces of wreckage, which are pulled up
by cranes aboard boats. They alsowill search out and bring up smaller
pieces of debris such as personal effects.
But even then, the human divers, who can only stay underwater for 13
minutes at a depth of 120 feet, might be rendered unnecessary by a machine
- this time a robot armed with video cameras and an ``arm'' that can pick
up objects.
If the black box is found, officials said, the robot will be sent down to
retrieve it because it can stay down longer and cover more ground. Divers
would follow only if needed.
|
760.219 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 11:01 | 165 |
760.220 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 11:21 | 13 |
| > Also, what was HIV infected blood doing on a passenger flight?
> This was reported on Channel 5 last night as well.
The claim that containers of HIV infected blood were in the cargo hold
continues to appear to have been either a bogus report or a misunderstanding.
Possibly the announcement "don't touch any of the debris that you find
on the shore because it may be a biohazard" was either misreported or
misunderstood.
Any of a number of diseases can be transmitted by human remains.
/john
|
760.221 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 11:29 | 23 |
| It looks like TWA will get out of this one alive.
The aircraft was insured, and losing a machine which TWA planned to
replace within two years isn't going to hurt TWA at all.
Unlike the Lockerbie incident, there were no explicit warnings passed
from the government to the airline. Pan Am was found to have been
grossly negligent for not inspecting unaccompanied baggage after having
been warned by the State Department that there was a credible threat
against a U.S. carrier.
As a result, they were required to pay out millions of dollars for each
passenger; in one case their liability for a single death was found to
be $19 million.
Unless the investigation turns up proof of gross negligence, international
law (primarily the Warsaw Convention) limits the liability for the death
of a passenger to $75,000. The airline carries enough insurance to be
able to pay that sort of claim with no financial impact to the bottom
line. And if the missile theory remains credible, even that might not
have to be paid out.
/john
|
760.222 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 11:46 | 92 |
| World's press blames sabotage for TWA crash
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Copyright the News & Observer Publishing Co.
(c) Reuters
LONDON (July 20, 1996) - The world's media has all but decided that TWA
flight 800 which crashed off the coast of Long Island was blown up by a bomb
or downed by a missile.
In blanket cover of Wednesday's crash in newspapers, radio and television
broadcasts, the hypothesis that extremist violence caused the death of all
230 people on the plane has dominated despite calls from the United States
for caution in laying blame before an investigation is complete.
"It was a bomb -- Clinton doesn't confirm, but Americans are certain," ran
the headline in Italy's left-wing L'Unita daily.
Some Hungarian papers suggested a Stinger rocket attack, possibly fired from
a ship, could have caused the tragedy.
But in France, where the flight was bound, the daily Le Figaro said the
plane was too high to be hit by a Stinger.
A French anti-terrorism specialist quizzed by France-Soir said a possibility
was a suicide bomber aboard the jet. It said Semtex or C4 explosives would
be needed to blow up such a jet.
"The trail of the guerrilla attack" -- Le Parisien tabloid, the
biggest-selling national daily, said in its front-page headline on Saturday.
In Britain, where a Pan American 747 was blown out of the sky by a bomb over
the Scottish town of Lockerbie in December 1988 with loss of 270 lives in
the air and on the ground, newspapers also highlighted the sabotage theory
but without producing firm theories about possible perpetrators.
Most preferred to angle their reports on the human tragedies of those who
died.
Israeli media speculated the crash may have been the result of sabotage and
said Israel was investigating possible links with Islamic terror groups. The
media said security had since been heightened at Israeli institutions
throughout the world.
Several Israelis flying in from John F. Kennedy airport in New York were
quoted as saying security there had lapsed.
Papers in the United Arab Emirates warned authorities not to point the
finger prematurely at the Middle East.
"If it becomes necessary to launch a search for terrorist suspects, the
American authorities would be well advised to pay attention not just to the
Middle East but also to the Midwest and other parts of the U.S. where
extremist militias and individual cranks are to be found in abundance," the
Khaleej Times daily editorial said on Saturday.
The daily Gulf News said on Friday U.S. media were "creating a hostile
racist reaction" when they "hastily pointed an accusing finger at the Middle
East."
"It is strange that the mediamen and "experts' who chose to rush to hasty
judgment did not recall the blunder made by their kind over the bombing of a
federal building in Oklahoma City last year," the paper said in an
editorial.
When the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma was bombed, the media rushed
to accuse the Middle East of involvement, but the bomb had been planted by a
white American rightwing extremist.
The TWA Boeing 747 had flown from Athens to New York before its fateful
flight from New York to Paris and Greek media erupted in rage over foreign
reports looking at security at Athens airport in connection with the crash.
"They insist on the dirty game," the pro-government daily Ta Nea protested
and depicted foreign reporters as FBI agents trying to sabotage Greece's
tourism industry.
In the United States, the FBI has said it is looking at the crash "as a
criminal investigation" and has not ruled out either an accident or
extremist action as a possible cause.
It resisted labelling the fiery midair blast an act of sabotage despite
persistent media reports and official comments indicating investigators had
zeroed in on that theory.
"We're not prepared to say something unless we know it is absolutely true,"
James Kallstrom, head of the FBI's New York office, told a news conference
on Friday.
"There is no evidence yet, any more than there was yesterday, that this was
a criminal act," said National Transportation Safety Board Vice Chairman
Robert Francis.
|
760.223 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 11:51 | 18 |
| From press reports:
A United Airlines flight from Kennedy Airport to Los Angeles was delayed
more than two hours Sunday night when a passenger was escorted off the
plane by FBI agents and Port Authority police.
The plane was taxiing to the runway, but had to return to the gate when the
unidentified passenger moved repeatedly from seat to seat. At the gate,
the passenger was escorted off the plane, and airline officials described
the situation as a "personnel problem."
The incident unnerved some other passengers, who then also asked to leave
the plane. One of the passengers who stayed aboard, Michael Jensen, said
Port Authority police searched the plane and required passengers to point
out which carry-on luggage belonged to them.
"Anxiety is high here on United 21," Jensen said from a cell phone in first
class. The flight left Kennedy at 11:14 p.m.
|
760.224 | | TEXAS1::SOBECKY | It's complicated. | Mon Jul 22 1996 12:31 | 5 |
|
re .216
Yeah, but EMT's are generally dedicated individuals, in my experience.
Not just looking for a job that keeps them out of the rain...
|
760.225 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Jul 22 1996 12:34 | 9 |
|
re -1
very true. I don't find many EMT's who are super concerned about
pay. They do it because they love it (probably why I'm a volunteer). :)
jim
|
760.226 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 17:13 | 6 |
| Last word (just before noon) was that they had lost the position of the
big piece of wreckage they had found earlier.
Keystone Cops in action.
/john
|
760.227 | unbelievable | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Mon Jul 22 1996 17:16 | 1 |
| Aren't these dingbats marking waypoints with GPS or LORAN?
|
760.228 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 17:18 | 6 |
| The reports said "the ship which had previously located the object did not
have sophisticated navigation equipment."
I paid $279 for my GPS receiver!
/john
|
760.229 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Mon Jul 22 1996 17:26 | 2 |
| Sounds like a load of crapola. Anything that can be called a ship and
has an engine has at least a LORAN if not a GPS.
|
760.230 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Mon Jul 22 1996 17:26 | 8 |
| Yabbut you didn't have to get that $279 purchase approved through a
multilayer chain of command. My guess would be that you just had to get it
approved with the better half, which is probably a lot easier than dealing
with government procurement.
OTOH, I haven't heard anything this sad since the urban legends about
fighter pilots bring along their own fuzzbusters. I'd hope this one (about
losing the sighting) is an UL too, but I s'pose it ain't.
|
760.231 | | BUSY::SLABOUNTY | FUBAR | Mon Jul 22 1996 17:47 | 6 |
|
RE: Pilots and fuzzbusters
What's the speed limit up there, anyways? And what's the fine
for exceeding it?
|
760.232 | Losing patience | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Mon Jul 22 1996 18:10 | 28 |
| > Keystone Cops in action.
Funny you should say that, because it was exactly what I was
thinking while I was reading the news summaries from the weekend
as posted earlier in this topic.
I kept thinking back to a book that my kid just finished reading,
by Robert Ballard about his expedition(s) to the Titanic. They
can find the Titanic in two-and-a-half miles of water, having only
a vague idea of its location.
But "they" (not the same "they", but still) can't find a jumbo jet
in only 120 feet of water? They can't find flight recorders that
virtually scream to be found? They can't find over a hundred bodies?
I don't get it. We have what is widely suspected to be an act of
murderous terrorism against Americans, virtually *in* America, and
quite likely an act of war. Why isn't the place crawling with every
conceivable kind of ship, sub, divers, equipment, and so on? This
seems to be proceeding *very* slowly and with very little tangible
result. Is there some kind of "turf war" going on between all of
these different agencies and branches of the military?
This is beginning to look a lot like incompetence, or in my worst
cynical suspicions, intentional foot-dragging. What are they doing,
waiting until the Olympics games are over?
Chris
|
760.233 | uh-oh... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Mon Jul 22 1996 18:12 | 5 |
|
During the night, were there black helicopters over the wreckage
site ?
bb
|
760.234 | The $10,000 hammer | MKOTS3::ROY_C | | Mon Jul 22 1996 18:15 | 2 |
|
If you paid $279, the government would have to pay $2.79 million :) :)
|
760.235 | | BUSY::SLABOUNTY | Foreplay? What's that? | Mon Jul 22 1996 18:20 | 10 |
|
RE: agency scuffles
The FBI and the NTSB [or whatever they're called] are allegedly
not cooperating very well, although anything you hear in the
spoken media leads you to believe they are.
The FBI doesn't want the other agency contaminating possible
evidence, but they're on their case for not moving fast enough.
|
760.236 | What will he do if/when they do find out? | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Mon Jul 22 1996 18:24 | 19 |
| > During the night, were there black helicopters over the wreckage
> site ?
Bwah-hah, no, the big alien ships from "Independence Day" swallowed
the whole thing up with a tractor beam. That's why they can't find
anything; it's gone.
But seriously folks...
What's Bill Clinton's worst nightmare lately? Let me guess... if
a nation (or a terrorist group representing a nation) were to be
positively identified as having bombed (or worse, "missile'd") an
American aircraft twenty miles off the coast of New York, what in
the world is he going to do?
Using my best Karl Malden voice, "What would you do?... What *would*
you *do*?" Would you prefer not to have to deal with it?
Chris
|
760.237 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Mon Jul 22 1996 18:40 | 8 |
|
> cynical suspicions, intentional foot-dragging. What are they doing,
> waiting until the Olympics games are over?
bingo!
|
760.238 | | WMOIS::CONNELL | Story does that to us. | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:00 | 11 |
| I'm really surprised that more folks haven't screamed "alien
spaceship". Perhaps they have and are finally not getting press
coverage. Well, it gives them more oppurtunity to write a book about
"Flight 800 and the Alien Agenda". Hmmmm. Maybe it's time for Preston
Nichols to write another book. He's the guy who thinks that the gov't.
is operating a time machine out at Montauk.
Bright Blessings,
PJ(Who does take this seriously, but wants to see what's on the
fringe., besides me, that is.)
|
760.239 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:22 | 4 |
|
NTSB = National Transportation Safety Bureau
|
760.240 | | ROWLET::AINSLEY | Less than 150 KTS is TOO slow | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:26 | 5 |
| re: .239
National Transportation Safety Board
Bob
|
760.241 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:30 | 13 |
| >My guess would be that you just had to get it approved with the better half,
Ackshully, though she was with me when we walked into the store (and even I
didn't know for sure that I was going to buy it on the spot), I didn't see
her again until after the purchase was complete.
One of the best pieces of advice we were given before getting married was,
"Keep separate bank accounts, even if only one of you works. That way, you
can buy each other (or yourself) things without having to check first."
It has worked very well. We've never had an argument over money.
/john
|
760.242 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:33 | 18 |
| See, I haven't always been paranoid. At one time I would have
TRUSTED that the people in charge knew what they were doing, and
rest assured, they'd eventually get it done. Patience, etc...
let them do their job and get off their back. Now, between
the media going haywire, and the feds with their heads up their bumms,
I don't know what to think anymore.
This is why this missile stuff gets started. Face it, it was a bomb.
The flight was bombed. The aliens had nothing to do with it. It's
not bill clintons fault... the friggin plane was bombed. Now find out
who did it and FLATEN THEM BASTARDS. If you goof up and bomb Hamas
rather than the "islamic boys for change".... tough, they needed
bombing. Bomb them boys too. Bomb everyone. I don't think France
will protest about us flying over their country this time so we
don't have to bomb their embassy in libya again. Bomb libya, Iran,
Iraqi, syria... if they complain, bomb 'em some more.
Jihad! Jihad.... **KA-BOOM**.
|
760.243 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:37 | 2 |
| Pataki has announced that they found a large chunk of wreckage and more
bodies, but the Feds in charge of the investigation won't confirm or deny.
|
760.244 | Y'all be able to hear my wife swearin when I get another Z/28 | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:38 | 11 |
| } My guess would be that you just had to get it approved with the
} better half
What's this approval bizness? My wife didn't know we was getting
a Chevelle until I drove the thing home. Never mind something
usefull like a GPS or a new stove or something.
And in case anyone is wondering, yes I ask my wife if it's ok to even
buy a pencil these days... usually.
MadMike
|
760.245 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:41 | 3 |
| .242:
Give that man an AK and a camel!
|
760.246 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:44 | 5 |
| GPS -- prolly the DoD had selective availability turned on so an enemy
couldn't target the whitehouse with a missle, and the ships couldn't
find the wreckage again from it either. :-)
I know -- they can fix that now...
|
760.247 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Carboy Junkie | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:47 | 5 |
| What if this is a military screw up?
What if a missile _was_ fired at the jet?
What of the eyewitness account of the bright streak then explosion?
|
760.248 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:50 | 5 |
|
Now THERE'S an interesting possibility.
|
760.249 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:51 | 1 |
| U.S. military would have admitted it by now.
|
760.250 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:52 | 4 |
| Yeah, everyone seems to be keeping very quite about the eyewitness
account of what looked like a missle. Sure would be a sad thing if it
turned out we shot down our own plane this time.
|
760.252 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Carboy Junkie | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:52 | 3 |
| really?
The military never covers things up?
|
760.253 | don't be silly | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:53 | 5 |
|
never. of course not.
|
760.254 | | BIGQ::SILVA | DECplus Homepage: http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus/ | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:54 | 4 |
|
Glenn, they would have blamed the Canadian's by now if that were the
case! :-)
|
760.255 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Carboy Junkie | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:54 | 1 |
| That's it, from now on I'm spelling it `missle' as well.
|
760.256 | | SMURF::MSCANLON | a ferret on the barco-lounger | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:55 | 6 |
| re: .250
The same thought had occurred to me, given the way
it's been raining F-14's lately.......
|
760.257 | | BIGQ::SILVA | DECplus Homepage: http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus/ | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:58 | 5 |
| | <<< Note 760.255 by POLAR::RICHARDSON "Carboy Junkie" >>>
| That's it, from now on I'm spelling it `missle' as well.
So when we see the word, "well" from you, it really is, "missle"?
|
760.258 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Mon Jul 22 1996 19:58 | 3 |
| Happened before - Navy Ship Vincennes shot down an Iraqi Airliner
in 1988 while testing the Aegis missile system. The Captain got the
Order of Merit.
|
760.259 | You Play the Ump | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:01 | 21 |
| I suppose I should de-Clinton-ize the matter and say "What should
a President of the United States do?" In the end, if any definitive
information is forthcoming at all, this will become more than simply
a rhetorical question.
If it is indeed a bombing, and a nation or representative group is
positively identified, then is this an Act of War? Does it demand
a military response? What other responses might be considered appropriate
and/or reasonable? My naturally-cynical nature makes me believe that
exactly nothing will be done. But what *should* be done?
Now, to re-Clinton-ize it :-), wouldn't it be ironic if, after
everything that he's (allegedly) done himself and squirmed out of
(so far), it's something like the TWA Flight 800 Tragedy, pretty much
out of his control, that turns out to be his downfall. Ask Jimmy Carter
about such things (i.e., Iran hostage crisis).
Has Bob Dole had any reaction or public statements involving this
matter yet (if anyone's told him about it, that is)?
Chris
|
760.260 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:03 | 3 |
| .258
Make that Iran.
|
760.261 | Missle tussle | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:04 | 5 |
| Oh, and it's not "missle", it's "mistle", as in "mistletoe".
Bustle, hustle, whistle... mistle.
Chris
|
760.262 | | CSC32::M_EVANS | I'd rather be gardening | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:08 | 3 |
| Are you sure that shouldn't be mistle tustle?
;-)
|
760.263 | | BUSY::SLABOUNTY | Form feed = <ctrl>v <ctrl>l | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:09 | 4 |
|
Well, the US DID accidentally drop a bomb in Sarajevo[?] this
w'end, although they say that no one was hurt.
|
760.264 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:11 | 3 |
| (I will never spell missile missle.) * 1000
Grrr... I knew that didn't look right. :-(
|
760.265 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:20 | 1 |
| Probably a postal worker did it. Hit 'em with a missal.
|
760.266 | | CTHU26::S_BURRIDGE | | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:24 | 3 |
| Or a clergyman, with a missive.
Or a Dairy Queen employee, with a Mr. Misty.
|
760.267 | Comet Kevorkian ? | NABSCO::MUNNS | dave | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:24 | 5 |
| These witnesses to a streak of light, could they have viewed a
meteorite or some other space fragment ? The chances of a collision
with outer space matter are remote but possible and a large enough
object could vaporize that jet. Call NORAD to see if they tracked anything
entering the atmosphere in that area at that time.
|
760.268 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:27 | 3 |
|
Meteorite? Its deja vu all over again..
|
760.269 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:27 | 5 |
| | <<< Note 760.266 by CTHU26::S_BURRIDGE >>>
| Or a Dairy Queen employee, with a Mr. Misty.
Too funny!
|
760.270 | They were teasing, not testing | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:29 | 8 |
| re: .258 & .260
Yes, that was Iran, and they weren't "testing" the aegis system.
They thought that airbus was a hostile F-1 Mirage or similar
aircraft and shot it down intentionally.
MadMike
|
760.271 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:37 | 7 |
|
Right, that's what they first said. However when the data from systems
and testimony from other crews was admitted, it became clear that the
aircraft was climbing and heading away from the Vincennes and was
within its correct and regular flight path. Consensus is that this
was an accidental event, but the Navy denied and covered up for a
loooooong time before the truth emerged.
|
760.272 | | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:49 | 10 |
| >If it is indeed a bombing, and a nation or representative group is
>positively identified, then is this an Act of War?
Yes.
>What other responses might be considered appropriate and/or reasonable?
If the assassins are an extremist group harbored by another country which
refuses extradition == economic sanctions.
|
760.273 | | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Mon Jul 22 1996 20:56 | 2 |
| If the nation had full knowledge and intent to harm U.S. citizens within the
country's borders, they've in effect invaded.
|
760.274 | Didn't we announce it first? | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 21:26 | 5 |
| >the Navy denied and covered up for a loooooong time before the truth emerged.
The Navy never denied shooting it down.
/john
|
760.275 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Jul 22 1996 21:28 | 10 |
|
>The Navy never denied shooting it down.
analogy: "I never denied sleeping with your daughter sir, I just
didn't tell you I raped her."
does make a difference, doesn't it....?
jim
|
760.276 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 21:31 | 6 |
| I don't think that's a valid analogy.
More like the Navy was claiming it was an unfortunate mistake rather than
a really stupid and incompetent mistake.
/john
|
760.277 | PA 103 relatives should be allowed to sue the Navy | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Jul 22 1996 21:32 | 6 |
| And, BTW, PA 103 was the retaliation.
TW 800 was most likely the retaliation for the beheading of the
supposed perpetrators of last year's Saudi bombing.
/john
|
760.278 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Jul 22 1996 21:38 | 9 |
|
>TW 800 was most likely the retaliation for the beheading of the
>supposed perpetrators of last year's Saudi bombing.
I agree.
|
760.280 | | BUSY::SLABOUNTY | Go Go Gophers watch them go go go! | Mon Jul 22 1996 23:05 | 3 |
|
And the black boxes will only "ping" for 30 days.
|
760.281 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | I'm out of p-name ideas | Mon Jul 22 1996 23:10 | 3 |
| One really frightening thing about this tragedy is that terrorists
will be encouraged by the incompetance displayed during this
investigation.
|
760.282 | | TEXAS1::SOBECKY | It's complicated. | Mon Jul 22 1996 23:32 | 7 |
|
re -1
You're right. Unfortunately, this highlights the incompetence of the
leadership of all our major governmetal agencies. Regardless of which
political party currently holds sway...
|
760.283 | Incompetence? Nope, turfdom is most likely. | AXPBIZ::WANNOOR | | Tue Jul 23 1996 00:34 | 29 |
| re: incompetence et al
I think it's more than incompetence; more like inter-agency
territorial rivalry/turfdom business [hey, doesn't this sound
like Digital's operations :-(].
For example, how come our fancy navy with all the right equipment
couldn't have these 2 ships in any earlier than TOMORROW?? It would
have been rather obvious that the CG, NY Police, NTSBs' gear all
put together couldn't do the job (even though having a couple of
Garmin 45 GPS, which will set them back less than $400 would have
helped. Crazy isn't it? I mean how hard was it to punch in a couple
of waypoints to mark that fuselage site?!).
So it seems to me either
a/ someone didn't kowtow low and early enough to the Navy or
b/ the cowboys refused to escalate; afterall by escalating it could
mean that they couldn't get the job done
What really makes me angry is that when it comes to assist in a domestic
disaster (hurricanes, floods, plane crash, etc), our so-called wealth of
resources are the last ones to be deployed. Why is that? Why can't
the navy be involved in this effort earlier on? Why can't the FBI
be engaged with NTSB the same time? Why can't other Medical examiners
come onboard and do the autopsies? Is the local ME refusing help?
Whose face is being saved/lost here?
Apparently charity doe NOT begin at home.
|
760.284 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Tue Jul 23 1996 03:16 | 11 |
|
Well, one things for sure..there's more New York politicians popping up
down there than you can shake a stick at.
Jim
|
760.285 | Missile now "at the top of the short list" say investigators | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 03:43 | 7 |
| Latest word (not sure how reliable) being reported on ABC Nightline is
that a piece of the leading edge of the wing has been recovered which
seems to indicate an impact with an explosive penetrating device.
Other sources say that they know who did it.
/john
|
760.286 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 04:23 | 5 |
| While ABC claimed the indication of explosion was on the leading edge
of a wing, CNN claims that the explosive residue is on the trailing
each near the rear cargo hold.
/john
|
760.287 | | MFGFIN::E_WALKER | I'm out of p-name ideas | Tue Jul 23 1996 04:34 | 1 |
| I would trust CNN first. ABC has some shaky sources.
|
760.288 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 04:42 | 30 |
| Mossad gave US warning of attack
From Christopher Walker, The Times of London
in Jerusalem
THE Tel Aviv paper Yediot Ahronot disclosed yesterday that Israel had been
asked by the CIA to check the Athens-New York passenger list of TWA Flight
800.
The involvement of Mossad, Israel's secret service, emerged after it was
made known that the Israelis warned US Intelligence before the disaster
that an American aircraft would be the target of "sabotage or hijacking"
by Islamic extremists. "The American intelligence agency gave Mossad the
passenger list of the TWA plane from Athens to New York and asked that it
check the passengers' backgrounds to reveal if one of them had connections
to a terror group," reported the paper, which has close links to the
Israeli security services.
From the start of investigations, the jet's previous stopover at Athens
has been seen as a potential key to the disaster as the airport has a poor
security record. According to Yediot Ahronot, a similar request to
examine the Athens-New York manifest has been made to the secret services
in Egypt and Jordan.
Earlier this month, a Mossad officer monitoring Middle East terrorist
groups passed an unspecific warning to his American counterpart in Tel
Aviv. The officer said: "The threat of sabotage or a hijacking against an
American plane was analysed and considered serious enough for us to pass
on to the Americans. It was then up to the Americans to assess the
dangers and decide whether to pass it on to their airlines."
|
760.289 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 04:45 | 54 |
| 'Streak of light' reports raise possibility of missile
fired from boat
BY JAMES BONE
IN NEW YORK
AND MICHAEL EVANS
DEFENCE CORRESPONDENT
The Times of London
FBI AGENTS pursuing a theory that the TWA jet was shot down by a missile
have been interviewing people at boatyards along the Long Island
shoreline. They have set up a free telephone number for local people to
report any suspicious activity on the evening of the crash.
At least ten witnesses have report ed seeing something streaking towards
the jet before it exploded. Among them is a Vietnam ex-serviceman, Major
Fred Meyer, an officer of the New York State Air National Guard, who was
flying a helicopter near by at the time. He said he saw a streak of
light heading towards the aircraft, although he denied later that he had
identified it as a missile. An American spy satellite positioned over
the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island is said to have yielded
important information. A law enforcement official said that the
satellite pictures show an object racing up to the TWA jet, passing it,
then changing course and smashing into it.
The authorities are also looking into the theft of a 30ft boat from the
Long Island coast in the ten days before the crash. Investigators
suggest that, if a missile did bring down Flight 800, it must have been
fired from a relatively large boat. Flying at 13,700ft, or 2.6 miles
high, the TWA airliner was out of range of any portable surface-to-air
missiles fired from the shore. Only a US-made Stinger or its Russian
copy, the SA14 Gremlin, fired from a boat directly below could have had
any chance of reaching the aircraft.
The Stinger's range is officially secret, but the Pentagon says it is
"more than three kilometres" or 1.8 miles. Unofficial publications esti
mate its range at anywhere from 2.7 to 3.1 miles. The Gremlin, a close
copy, has a similar reach.
There are only a few shoulder-launched missile systems capable of
reaching an aircraft at a high altitude, but even the most sophisticated
would be operating at the "end of their envelope" at 13,700ft, according
to Ian Hogg, editor of Jane's Infantry Weapons.
The American Stinger missile has a maximum effective range of about
14,760ft, but that is travelling at a 45 degree angle. The missile has a
maximum altitude of about 12,400ft. Mr Hogg said it would be difficult
to hit a target at anything beyond 12,000ft.
Although a number of Stinger missiles went missing on the black market,
mostly during the war in Afghanistan when the CIA was supplying the
Mujahidin with anti-air weapons, they were the early models which were
not so capable. Some may have ended up in the hands of terrorist
organisations.
|
760.290 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 05:01 | 93 |
| TIME Magazine
July 29, 1996 Volume 148, No. 6
WHO WISHES US ILL?
THE CIA IS CASTING A WIDE NET FOR THOSE WHO HATE AMERICA, INCLUDING GROUPS
FROM THE MIDDLE EAST
KEVIN FEDARKO
In the mind of every official or politician called upon to conduct a
TWA-related press conference last week loomed the memory of the Oklahoma
City bombing. The outcry against Muslims and Arabs initially kindled by that
atrocity was swiftly silenced by the disclosure that the real culprits were
Americans conducting a holy war of their own. And so when it came to
pointing a finger at possible suspects last week, U.S. authorities
recommended, in Bill Clinton's words, "keeping an open mind." Outside the
public spotlight, however, it was a different story. The CIA immediately
fired off secret cables to its foreign stations, ordering intelligence
officers to comb their sources for leads. Agents quietly began checking the
Athens airport, where the TWA flight originated, for security breaches. The
names of all the passengers who flew the Athens-to-New York City leg, as
well as those who boarded the plane in New York, were traced through
computerized data banks for links with terrorist groups. The Israeli,
Jordanian and Egyptian intelligence services were asked to run checks as
well. The CIA was casting its net as widely as possible, considering
suspects ranging from Colombian drug traffickers to disgruntled airline
employees.
The focus, however, quickly turned to the Middle East. In recent years, even
the most jaded U.S. diplomats have been stunned by the intensity of
anti-American resentment in this part of the world--much of it stemming from
uncritical U.S. support of Israel. Over the past 15 years, the U.S. has
closed embassies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Sudan and Libya. Many remaining
diplomatic outposts have turned into virtual fortresses. Part of the U.S.
chancellery in Cairo is built to withstand a nuclear blast. In Beirut the
ambassador travels in a military convoy protected by a machine-gun turret.
"It has been a long time," says a U.S. official, "since I have seen such
strong anti-American feelings in the Middle East."
Tracing this sentiment led investigators to a variety of suspects, any of
whom may--or may not--be responsible. Among the candidates are Ramzi Yousef
and his supporters. Yousef belongs to a new breed of Islamic zealot trained
in the Afghan war. He was captured in Pakistan and extradited to the U.S.
last year. Accused of masterminding a fiendishly elaborate plot to blow up
U.S. passenger planes over the Pacific, Yousef is now entering his eighth
week of trial in New York City. Counterterrorism experts fear remnants of
his group may still be active.
Yousef and his allies have plenty of company on the wide-ranging suspect
list. Hizballah, the radical Lebanese organization, restricts its military
operations to Israeli territory. But some U.S. officials suspect that
Hizballah may now be seeking revenge against the U.S. for supporting Israel,
even after its army shelled a United Nations compound in the Lebanese
village of Qana last April, killing more than 100 civilians. Threats have
also come from Egypt's Islamic Group, which has pledged to strike at the
U.S. for imprisoning its spiritual leader, Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman. Rahman,
a blind Egyptian cleric, was convicted last year of plotting to blow up the
U.N. and several other New York landmarks. He is serving a life sentence in
Springfield, Missouri. Speculation also surrounds the hard-line Palestinian
group Hamas, which has vowed to attack the U.S. for agreeing to extradite
Musa Abu Marzouk, a top Hamas official, to Israel.
Another possibility is an extremist Saudi organization calling itself the
Islamic Movement for Change. The group has already claimed responsibility
for two attacks against Americans in Saudi Arabia. The first, in Riyadh in
1995, killed five Americans. The second, in Dhahran last month, took the
lives of 19 U.S. servicemen. Clinton promised that those responsible would
be punished. Last week a person claiming to represent the group faxed a note
to a Saudi newspaper just hours before the TWA explosion promising to
"respond in an extreme way" to the "threats made by the stupid American
President." Officials, however, were downplaying the letter's significance.
Lurking behind all these groups, say U.S. investigators, may be the shadowy
specter of foreign governments. Iran, known to sponsor a variety of radical
Islamic groups, is viewed as the country most determined to oppose the U.S.
presence in the Middle East.
In the end, however, those responsible will probably remain undetected for
some time. "This is going to take a long, difficult investigation," says a
U.S. official. How long? In the case of Pan Am Flight 103, it took nine days
just to determine that the disaster was caused by a bomb. Identifying the
alleged culprits--who were eventually found to have been sponsored by
Libya--took an additional three years of work. And because of protection
from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the suspects were never even brought
to trial. Unlike the 270 people they are accused of murdering, those men are
walking the earth today.
--Reported by Scott MacLeod/Paris, Lara Marlowe/Beirut and Douglas
Waller/Washington
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
760.291 | rotfl | SHOGUN::KOWALEWICZ | Strangers on the plain, Croaker | Tue Jul 23 1996 11:58 | 3 |
760.292 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Your memory still hangin round | Tue Jul 23 1996 12:53 | 7 |
|
Report on the new says that the authorities have questioned a
marina official about two men who rented a slip the day the plane went
down. They paid a deposit and went out but never came back for the
deposit.
ej
|
760.293 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Tue Jul 23 1996 13:28 | 1 |
| how deep is the water in the plane recovery area?
|
760.294 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Tue Jul 23 1996 13:37 | 11 |
|
Here's an interesting thang. Apparently, the stinger package is
equipped with a device called "identification friend or foe". This
device interrogates the transponder of the targetted aircraft to ensure
that it does not acquire a friendly target. The device can tell
military from civilian aircraft, and can be used to lock out civilian
targets. Apparently, one of the things that went wrong on the Vincennes
was that the IFF read a transponder from an Iranian military transport
that was still on the ground. Maybe this option will beome standard
equipment one day.
|
760.295 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Tue Jul 23 1996 13:47 | 4 |
|
> how deep is the water in the plane recovery area?
~120 feet
|
760.296 | Is 120' too deep for a buoy? | NQOS01::s_coghill.dyo.dec.com::S_Coghill | Luke 14:28 | Tue Jul 23 1996 14:24 | 4 |
| A lot of people have mentioned GPS to get the crashsite
coordinates so they could find it again. Did it have
to be that hitech? Couldn't they have dumped a Yugo over
the side with a rope and buoy attached to it?
|
760.297 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Tue Jul 23 1996 14:31 | 1 |
| isn't the plane in a gazillion pieces from the blast?
|
760.298 | Internet heating up, as expected | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Tue Jul 23 1996 14:47 | 54 |
| > I would trust CNN first. ABC has some shaky sources.
I dunno, ABC lost one of their own on this airplane. They're
motivated. Consider, for example, how much more motivated cops
are to investigate a cop killing.
re: response for domestic vs. foreign crises (many replies back)
Indeed... if this had happened to some other country, our troops
would probably be deployed by now...
re: missiles
In various Internet newsgroup postings I've read (I really must start
getting some sleep at night...), I've seen the Afghanistan connection
that I'd also seen posted here regarding the missing Stingers.
Supposedly at one point Afghanistan offered to sell about 100 of them
back to the U.S., but we declined. Who knows where they are now. The
rumor mill has it that there are at least four more in the hands of
terrorists, "ready to go".
Speaking of the Internet, as expected lots of theories are being
bandied about there, from the mundane to the bizarre. Several of them
involve the C-130 that was in the area dropping flares at the time
of the TWA explosion. Some people (especially those with knowledge
of military equipment) believe that a particular type of flare was
being dropped (I forget the name) that is intended as a "heat decoy",
i.e., to attract heat-seeking missiles away from aircraft.
Some of the more extreme theories down this path involve 1) the U.S.
had some prior warning concerning a possible attack on a plane out of
Kennedy, and the C-130 (and other military aircraft, also mentioned
by name) were there to attempt to prevent such an attack (why not simply
ground the flights?...), or 2) the U.S. military was conducting
training exercises in the area at the time, and inadvertently shot
down TWA Flight 800 themselves with an unarmed missile.
Other frequently-mentioned theories involve the missile being
launched from a small sub of the type frequently used by drug
smugglers, and accompanied by a medium-sized boat. This theory
explains why they didn't attack from a point further west while
the aircraft was still at a lower altitude, because the sub needed
greater water depth, and also to avoid detection. I don't much care
for this theory, mainly because it's too complicated.
This is pretty extreme stuff, of course. I tend to favor simpler
explanations that fit the facts. Of course, the problem is, there
are very few facts to grab onto. There's a lot of grumbling about
this on-line as well, and growing suspicions concerning incompetence,
and foot-dragging for various speculated reasons.
Chris
|
760.299 | Where's Bill? | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Tue Jul 23 1996 14:55 | 20 |
| There was a memorial service for the victims of TWA Flight 800
yesterday on Long Island near the explosion/crash site (well, as
near to it as you can get on land).
I wasn't watching closely, but I didn't see Bill Clinton among the
government officials present at the memorial service; was he there?
After the Oklahoma City bombing, there was a memorial service that
was not only highly publicized and televised, but Bill Clinton was
very prominently present, as I recall.
What's the difference?
I'm quite aware of my anti-Clinton bias, but I do try to be objective
at times, and I really do get the impression that he's been "hiding"
from the TWA Flight 800 tragedy. He's certainly *far* less visible
and vocal concerning this than he was about OKC, right from the
beginning.
Chris
|
760.300 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 14:56 | 6 |
|
The official explanation is that the security resources and money necessary
to bring Clinton to the memorial service(s) would be better spent on the
investigation.
|
760.301 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Tue Jul 23 1996 14:57 | 2 |
| People expect planes to crash, but they never expect buildings to
crash.
|
760.302 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Tue Jul 23 1996 14:57 | 1 |
| he was campaigning, in kaliph, i think.
|
760.303 | does it work both ways? | WONDER::BOISSE | | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:00 | 15 |
|
re: 760.259
>> If it is indeed a bombing, and a nation or representative group is
>> positively identified, then is this an Act of War? Does it demand
>> a military response?
And if the "representative group" you speak of just *happens* to be some crazy
group from this country, we react just the same, right? We declare war on
them, just as we would one of those crazy groups from all those other crazy
countries? Ok, well when we start the bombing, don't jump to their defense
because their rights are being violated. Oh, and if your home is within the
bomb perimeter...
Bob
|
760.304 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:11 | 8 |
|
Clinton was in Colorado, but did manage to get in a few words regarding the
memorial service
Jim
|
760.305 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:12 | 4 |
| re .303:
This is very reminiscent of the discussion about the OKC bombing. Some boxers
were calling for reprisals against Iran, Iraq, etc.
|
760.306 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:14 | 2 |
| yep, be something if the criminals turn out to be
some good 'ol white boys protesting whatever.
|
760.307 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:15 | 5 |
| It seems odd to me that a plane was dropping flares in the exact same
area as the crash.
It also seems odd that the flight/data recorders haven't been retrieved in
a mere 120 ft of water.
|
760.308 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:24 | 8 |
| It does seem peculiar. Anybody remember if a 747 has an engine in the
tail? That's where the <orange> boxes are located. I suppose if it was
a heat seeker and there is a tail engine that the boxes could have been
rendered inoperative by the mechanical impact/explosion if the missile
locked onto the tail engine (assuming one exists). It's a thought,
anyway. Frankly I'm surprised the missile theory is getting as much
credence as it is, given the greater ease with which a bomb can be
manufactured/obtained and planted.
|
760.309 | And one box is in the tail, the other in the nose. | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:27 | 3 |
| 747s have four wing-mounted engines.
/john
|
760.310 | 747 has 4 engines, all under the wings .... | BRITE::FYFE | Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:28 | 0 |
760.311 | | SCASS1::BARBER_A | Spanky | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:30 | 7 |
| I'm getting tired of everyone ranting about the incompentence involved
in this investigation/recovery effort. Planes don't crash every day.
It stands to reason that we are ill-equipped to handle this type of
disaster. It must be quite an ordeal to try to piece things together.
Stick a firecracker in a goldfish's mouth and see what you can piece
together.
|
760.312 | they found something | EVMS::MORONEY | JFK committed suicide! | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:30 | 2 |
| A 30'x60' section of fuselage was located last night, and 6 more bodies
recovered from under it.
|
760.313 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:33 | 3 |
| 'pril. it's human nature. it's called
monday morning quarterbacking (though
this game isn't over yet).
|
760.314 | | NQOS01::s_coghill.dyo.dec.com::S_Coghill | Luke 14:28 | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:35 | 4 |
| I believe the 747 has an APU located in the tail-section
with its exhaust under the rudder. I would find it unlikely
that a heat-seeking missile would pick out that small heat
source over four wing-mounted furnaces.
|
760.315 | Provide power while engines are not running | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:39 | 3 |
| APUs only operate on the ground.
/john
|
760.316 | | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Tue Jul 23 1996 15:55 | 9 |
| >And if the "representative group" you speak of just *happens* to be some crazy
>group from this country, we react just the same, right?
I don't think the {name your favorite state}_militia is representative of the
U.S.
Remember, we're talking about (if) a foreign government which *knowingly*
dispatched a "representative group" to attack U.S. citizens within U.S.
borders.
|
760.317 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:00 | 2 |
| 'pril, if there is a cover-up, it would explain why the authorities are
having a difficult time finding things.
|
760.318 | Where's the very expensive beef? | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:04 | 26 |
| > The official explanation is that the security resources and money necessary
> to bring Clinton to the memorial service(s) would be better spent on the
> investigation.
That same reasoning could (should?) have been used to keep Clinton
away from the OKC memorial service as well, then. I guess they used
up all their security resources and money to bring Clinton to the opening
ceremonies of the Olympics.
re: Monday-morning quarterbacking, etc.
The U.S. government has spent untold billions of dollars on "defense".
We have paid for vast arrays of equipment and manpower, presumably
for the purpose of defending America. Now that we actually need this
stuff, we'd like to see some of it. We spend more billions of dollars
on an alphabet soup of agencies and committees and task forces (didn't
FEMA just get elevated to cabinet status?). Now that we need them,
we'd like to see them.
When I glance at the evening news (a rare event, to be sure) and I
see a couple of "Sea Hunt"-sized boats bobbing around out there, and
that's "the investigation", I wonder where the rest of our expensive
forces, resources, and equipment are. And I'm not the only one.
Chris
|
760.319 | | SCASS1::BARBER_A | Spanky | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:06 | 3 |
| Oh yeah, I'm also tired of everyone screaming "cover-up".
I understand the need to explore all the possibilities, however.
|
760.320 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:17 | 2 |
| it took investigators 5 days to locate the black
box on the Lockerbie jet. that was on land.
|
760.321 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:19 | 2 |
| Well, this one has me wondering for some reason. So many things all
going wrong at the same time and so many odd circumstances.
|
760.322 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:27 | 10 |
|
>747s have four wing-mounted engines.
There is an exhaust port for APU in the tail, I believe.
Jim
|
760.323 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:29 | 9 |
|
I seem to recall the 747 having an internal APU, the reason for which I
can't remember.
Jim
|
760.324 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:59 | 11 |
| re .322 & .323
See .313 and .314.
The APU is used only to provide internal power when the engines are not
running and when ground power is not available.
It is shut down during flight, when the engines can provide all the
necessary power.
/john
|
760.325 | apples and oranges | CUSTOM::ALLBERY | Jim | Tue Jul 23 1996 16:59 | 21 |
| re: .299, Where's Bill
>> What's the difference?
I see the two incidents as very different.
The OKC bombing was a bombing of a federal government facility. There
was no possibility that it was an accident. There was little doubt
that the bombing was directed at the US goverment, and US goverment
employees were killed.
The TWA Flight 800 disaster involved a commercial aircraft. It was a
terible tragegy, but even if the cause of the crash is determined to
be a bomb or missile, it is not a forgone conclusion (at least to me)
that the act was directed at the US government. It could easily be
directed at TWA, or an individual on the plane.
Now if a C130 transport carrying 230 US troops fell victim to a
terrorist SAM, and Clinton didn't show up for the memorial service,
you'd have a good point...
|
760.326 | Cynicism setting in with old age | SSDEVO::LAMBERT | We ':-)' for the humor impaired | Tue Jul 23 1996 17:10 | 25 |
| Re: 'pril and getting tired of complaints of foot dragging and coverup.
While I'm not one to get caught up in conspiracy theories too often
(though I *would* like to know why there was no blast crater in the street
outside of the OKC building...) there's a lot here to be curious about
here.
Why were the C-130s performing exercises in the area? Had we been warned
of a possible threat, were investigating it, and the planed dropped
anyway? This is not something the US gov would want to advertise. It
tells people we were looking for problems, and you're not allowed to
admit such things these days. Ground the airplanes instead of using the
C-130, etc? Same deal - people would ask "why" and we'd have to admit we
were open to foreign threat. This wouldn't wash well in an election year.
The "world press" has already told us we're the victims of international
terrorism. We just have to prove or disprove it now.
-- Sam
P.S. The article a few back concerning our presence in the Middle East.
Gosh, Libya, Iran, Iraq, and Sudan hate us, huh? Surprise, surprise.
I guess we should polish up our image for the benefit of international
criminals, eh?
|
760.327 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Tue Jul 23 1996 17:31 | 122 |
| TWA explosion so rare it frightens the experts
Associated Press
The craft of airplane design is one of precision, of computer
projections and reassuring statistics. The act of blowing a plane from
the sky is a chaos of evil intent, slim opportunity and hellish luck.
This is why, beyond the awful loss of 230 lives, aeronautics and
terrorism experts are so disturbed by the explosion of TWA 800.
For them, the mystery of what happened at 13,700 feet stirs special
dread: They see either a mechanical failure unlike anything experienced
or a terrorist act of accuracy and precision rarely seen.
"If it was an accident, it would scare the hell out of us," Michael
Barr, director of aviation safety programs at the University of
Southern California, said Monday. "These planes just don't blow up.
There's too many fire walls, too many checks and balances."
Christopher Ronay is equally troubled. As head of the FBI bomb unit for
seven years, Ronay investigated 30 aircraft bombings; he retired in
1994.
"I can't recall anything that has had a catastrophic effect like this
case," he said. "You could blow the hell out of a cargo compartment
with a luggage bomb, but you have to blow up a fuel cell or an engine
to get an explosion like that."
Their perplexed fears are based on witness accounts of a huge orange
fireball, a possible marker of exploding jet fuel. The Boeing 747 had
taken off just 17 minutes before, its tanks fully loaded with 48,445
gallons of fuel for the long flight to France.
The specific fuel involved is called Jet A; it's a derivative of
kerosene and a sluggish explosive. To explode, it must mix with air, an
indication one or more of the eight fuel cells in the jumbo jet's wings
were breached -- either by violent engine or mechanical failure, by a
well-placed bomb or possibly by a missile.
There have been cases of sudden mechanical failure that caused fire and
the loss of aircraft. An Air Force C-141 transport plane crashed in
Europe in the late 1970s when an engine exploded, spraying hot
fragments that ignited paint in a cargo hold.
A Boeing 767 ripped to pieces over Thailand in 1991 when a computer
glitch caused one engine to deploy its reverse thruster, sending the
plane into a vicious spin.
But in neither case was there a cataclysmic explosion.
Before TWA 800 went down last week, there had never been an explosion
of such ferocity aboard a 747-100, a "wet-wing" or plane that carries
all its fuel in wing tanks.
"You have to have instant ignition into a large fuel source," said
Barr, who trains accident investigators. "The way those fuel tanks are
sealed, it just doesn't happen."
Similarly, few bombing attempts on commercial aircraft have ended in
such a fiery conclusion. In many cases, jetliners have survived even
severe damage from explosions and landed safely.
In 1986, terrorists planted a sheet of plastic explosive the size of a
business letter under one seat on a TWA flight from Rome to Athens. The
explosion killed one man, blowing his seat out of the plane. A
grandmother, daughter and grandchild were sucked out of the resulting
hole. But the plane survived.
"I stood in that hole and you could tell the airplane wasn't in danger
of coming apart," Ronay said.
Two similar bombings involving flights over the Pacific Ocean resulted
in the deaths of single passengers, but the planes limped home.
Until now, the crash of Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 was
arguably the most memorably horrific aircraft bombing. But, again,
there was no fiery explosion -- until fuel-laden parts of the plane hit
the ground.
A pound of Semtex, a Czech-made plastic explosive, was hidden in a
radio-cassette player and, when detonated by a timing device, blew a
hole in the forward hull. The blast weakened an adjacent -- and crucial
-- structural support. As the plane flew at 500 mph seven miles up, the
cockpit section buckled back toward the fuselage. The horrible physics
of those stresses broke the plane into five sections that tumbled to
Earth over the Scottish countryside.
"The dumb luck of the tragedy is that the terrorist who places a
suitcase in the system doesn't know where it will go on the plane,"
Ronay said.
Ronay said if the suitcase containing the radio-cassette player had
been stacked inside a center cargo hold, surrounded by other luggage to
absorb the blast, passengers and plane would have survived.
"Placement is everything," he said. "In bombing, location is as
important as it is in real estate."
Such cases challenge the myth of plastic explosives' enormous power.
Although it is easily concealed, stable and packs about twice the force
of other commercial explosives, plastic explosives hidden in luggage
would not be enough to touch off a 747's fuel tanks, Ronay said.
"If it was a bomb, I'm inclined to say you'd have something involving
an explosive device concealed in the engine cowling or wing assembly,"
Ronay said. "If the engine explodes, you could break the wing and
release the fuel."
The ability to plant a bomb so precisely would raise the stakes of
terrorism, calling into question issues of personnel checks on
maintenance staff and security provided for jetliners.
But Barr cautions it is too early to draw conclusions.
"Amateur investigators look at things they know have happened in the
past and try to set this accident into a sequence they know," he said.
"Professional investigators have to keep an open mind. This could be a
brand new problem a 747 never had in its history. Eventually we will
find out."
|
760.328 | | BUSY::SLABOUNTY | To the Batmobile ... let's go!!! | Tue Jul 23 1996 17:38 | 6 |
|
Could an explosion be the result of a fuel leak onto some hot
engine parts?
I'm just guessing here.
|
760.329 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 18:16 | 8 |
| re .328 No.
Kerosene doesn't explode, it burns, and not extremely fast.
To get it to explode, you have to have just the right mixture of air
and kerosene, and you then have to ignite a lot of it all at once.
/john
|
760.330 | | CONSLT::MCBRIDE | Idleness, the holiday of fools | Tue Jul 23 1996 18:28 | 6 |
| Pressure, don't forget the pressure. Kerosene has a higher flash point
and will not produce fumes like lighter distillates i.e. gasoline. The
fumes are what ignites. Kerosene is very stable in this regard. You
need to vaporize it and or place it under high pressure for it to
explode. Diesels have very high compression ratios for this very
reason.
|
760.331 | | EDSCLU::JAYAKUMAR | | Tue Jul 23 1996 18:37 | 12 |
| Time and again I have been observing with agony, that Air-India bombing off
the coast of Ireland is being hardly mentioned in any of the reports.
.. and this one is a classic example...
>> Until now, the crash of Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 was
>> arguably the most memorably horrific aircraft bombing.
nearly 330+ people I believe died in that incident. In spite of all the do-good
nature of US and other developed nations, it is this kind of subtle denial of
existance is what irks most of the folks in 3rd world countries.
/Jay
|
760.332 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Tue Jul 23 1996 18:42 | 3 |
| I heard mention of the Air India explosion/crash in the last day or two.
Apparently, they never determined that it was a bomb. It's just that that
was the most likely scenario.
|
760.333 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 18:43 | 1 |
| re .-1 see .51
|
760.334 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Tue Jul 23 1996 18:46 | 8 |
|
I heard it mentioned in several reports the day after TWA 800.
Jim
|
760.335 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Tue Jul 23 1996 18:48 | 4 |
|
we have someone in our office that lost some cousins in that crash, to
make matters worse, they're house was flooded as well with our recent
monsoons.
|
760.336 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Tue Jul 23 1996 18:48 | 2 |
| No, that must be a mistake Jim. We westerners don't care about third
world types.
|
760.337 | | FCCVDE::CAMPBELL | | Tue Jul 23 1996 19:14 | 4 |
| We should show the same homage to the third world that they show to
us.
--Doug C.
|
760.338 | FLY TWA | CSC32::C_BENNETT | | Tue Jul 23 1996 19:44 | 4 |
| I for one will reserve speculation. Maybe they will find the
cause - maybe they will not.
Sad still the same.
|
760.339 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Tue Jul 23 1996 19:56 | 25 |
| Some of those replies are exactly why I initially figured the plane
was shot down. That note about bomb placement was good.
The explosion is the key. Not the explosion of the bomb or warhead,
but the plane itself, which indicates the fuel got touched off as I
mentioned earlier. The 747 has redundant, redunant redundancy (whew),
at least for the hydrolic system(s). And engines... so for the
plane to explode like that, a fuel cell would need to be pierced,
which means the explosive was ON THE WING or near it.
I figured a sam went right up the arse of an engine and exploded,
touching off the fuel. Next wacko but possible theory is someone got
to the plane on the ground. Wow, that would be a bad deal.
If a bomb were inside the plane (cargo or passenger area), as we've
seen before, there would be structural damage, either catastrophic, or
not, but no fuel explosion.
Finally, while we're all jumping up and down about incompetance, and
cover-ups.... let me say, "some folks" may have an idea of what's
going on. They may already know who to "get". The US can't
assassinate or outright retaliate against people, for political
reasons, but you know payback is a bitch. See, I know BillC and
crew are screwups, but they aren't in total control of everything
that happens
MadMike
|
760.340 | Trains and buses are looking better | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Tue Jul 23 1996 20:03 | 5 |
| Shooting from the hip, I'd venture that when considering security
risks, the missile scenario and the maintenance-guy wing-bomb-planter
are about equally bad, no? Not much you can do about either one...
Chris
|
760.341 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Tue Jul 23 1996 20:19 | 17 |
| It's not a maintenance man per se, but an imposter. If you didn't
have anything else to do, you could spend a day or two trying to
sneak into somewhere you shouldn't be. Or, you could tail someone
who works at the airport. Whack 'em and take their badge and walk onto
the flight line of an airport. Cripes, this ain't too difficult and
happens a lot in other realms.
I don't think it would be hard to defeat a missile in the future, I'm
sure they're already thinking about making weapons smarter, and
equiping commercial aircraft with a special transmitter, It might
add about $10,000 to the cost of a plane, but loosing a $50 Million
dollar aircraft on top of innocent people makes this a no-brainer.
This wouldn't be too hard to do, even if you could launch a missile
the IFF isn't squacking hostile so the warhead wouldn't be armed.
The weapon would punch a hole in the plane at the most.
MadMike
|
760.342 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 20:24 | 1 |
| Strip search everyone who goes onto the tarmac.
|
760.343 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 20:26 | 7 |
| > the IFF isn't squacking hostile so the warhead wouldn't be armed.
> The weapon would punch a hole in the plane at the most.
That isn't the way IFF works. A missile disarms itself if the IFF is
squawking FRIEND. Hostile aircraft don't sit around squawking KILLME.
/john
|
760.344 | RU wired? Drop yer drawers pleaze. | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Tue Jul 23 1996 20:34 | 12 |
| So I said it backwards. It's not to hard to design something that
will refuse to kill someone who's friendly. The next trick would
be to be able to reprogram a weapon to kill something regardless.
Or obsolete weapons would still blow up on contact.
re: the strip search. Picture the decguard (not the pretty ones
at MSO) who casually monitor badges. Some new guy shows up, how do
you know... everyone lets their guard down until something bad
happens. Then stuff gets real tight for a week or so, then back
to normal.
MadMike
|
760.345 | At first I thought maybe they removed something | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 23 1996 21:39 | 10 |
| OK, conspiracy theorists:
Look at http://www.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/images/top/072396/topstory_17766P.html
and tell me what the blurry area to the left of the center of the photo is.
Actually, I figured it out just as I was writing this.
I think.
/john
|
760.346 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Tue Jul 23 1996 21:49 | 1 |
| well what is it cause I couldn't find it.
|
760.347 | | EVMS::MORONEY | JFK committed suicide! | Tue Jul 23 1996 22:21 | 1 |
| looks like a drop of water on the lens or something.
|
760.348 | | 42333::LESLIE | Andy *^* Leslie DTN: 847 6585 | Wed Jul 24 1996 07:05 | 1 |
| .327 13,500 ft? I thought it was at 7,500 ft?
|
760.349 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Jul 24 1996 10:30 | 1 |
| You thought wrong.
|
760.350 | | 42333::LESLIE | My God! It's full of QAR's! | Wed Jul 24 1996 13:02 | 1 |
| See .49 for why I thought wrong.
|
760.351 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Jul 24 1996 13:47 | 8 |
| .341
> add about $10,000 to the cost of a plane...no-brainer.
Right. That's why the airlines refused to follow an FAA recommendation
that smoke detectors be installed in cargo holds. They said the cost
wasn't justified by the potential payback. ValuJet 508 may change
that "no-brainer" decision...
|
760.352 | | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Wed Jul 24 1996 15:01 | 6 |
| re:.-1
I'm hip.
I mean, once you get your own wings, buying airline tickets gets, like,
kinda redundant, y'know?
|
760.353 | I think i'm in trouble.. | FABSIX::R_GARROW | | Wed Jul 24 1996 16:37 | 1 |
| I wonder.......what the color of the pilots eyes were.
|
760.354 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Wed Jul 24 1996 16:54 | 1 |
| blew.
|
760.355 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Jul 24 1996 17:26 | 14 |
| Families were on TV earlier today yelling and screaming about how
terrible it was that Pataki yesterday claimed that dozens of bodies
(maybe as many as a hundred) would be brought up in the next couple
of days, but that the NTSB says that they are not aware of any bodies
on the bottom, or anywhere else, other than the 107 recovered so far.
Families are demanding international assistance, because they claim
the U.S. Government is hiding something. They want French teams to
join in the search.
The French Consulate responded that there were already two French
government specialists working at the site.
/john
|
760.356 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Wed Jul 24 1996 17:28 | 9 |
|
I think there are far too many politicians involved in this shindig.
Jim
|
760.357 | You can trust the gov't. Ask any indian. | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Wed Jul 24 1996 18:36 | 6 |
| The families who lost love ones think the US gov't is, (gasp)
covering something up???? (shock/horrros). I thought I was the
only paranoid psycho around. Maybe I'm not nuts after all.
Maybe we're all nuts, except for mr. bill.
MadMike
|
760.358 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Wed Jul 24 1996 18:42 | 1 |
| Pataki is an appropriate name.
|
760.359 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Wed Jul 24 1996 18:45 | 1 |
| sounds like a wad of spittle eh?
|
760.360 | White House infighting starting to leak out | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Wed Jul 24 1996 19:28 | 25 |
| Yesterday afternoon the top news story was "dissension in the ranks"
regarding Flight 800. Leon Panetta had released a statement that
there was evidence of a likely bomb blast in the recovered wreckage.
Within hours, Toke McCurry said that the accuracy of Panetta's
statement was questionable, and that since Panetta doesn't have
forensic training, he lacks expertise in this area (or some similar
statement).
Of course, McCurry's extensive forensic training qualifies him to
make the statement "Anyone in the government who believes that this
was from a missile has half a brain."
Let's take a step back here. At this point it's possible, if not
probable, that over two hundred Americans have been attacked and killed
just off the shore of Long Island, by forces unknown (yes, possibly
domestic, but more likely foreign).
*Where* is the President of the United States? In my opinion, he is
seriously underestimating the impact of this crisis on the people of
America. It could very well be his very own version of Jimmeh's Iran
hostage crisis.
Chris
|
760.361 | | 30188::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Wed Jul 24 1996 19:32 | 1 |
| mcdougal was on the plane. this may explain things.
|
760.362 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Jul 24 1996 19:33 | 9 |
760.363 | ??? | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Wed Jul 24 1996 19:43 | 17 |
| Gee, Dick, I never said "Kill em all now"... I've never even said
it was certain countries or specific groups, or even suggested a
specific response.
But the guy has been invisible. The situation demands some kind of
involvement on his part, and we're just not seeing it. I don't see
much of even an appearance of concern on his part.
There's a real perception on the part of many that given our vast
resources, not enough of them are being applied to this problem,
and given the magnitude of the crisis, he should be involved, as
opposed to say, the mayor of New York.
If you can point to where I've suggested "Kill em all now", etc.,
I'd be, er, enlightened...
Chris
|
760.364 | More ??? | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Wed Jul 24 1996 19:46 | 7 |
| I'll also point out that a military response may not even be
the most appropriate one, depending on the results of the
investigation. I did solicit opinions on what the proper
responses might be under different outcomes and scenarios,
but was mostly ignored.
Chris
|
760.365 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:00 | 7 |
| .363
> But the guy has been invisible.
He has publicly expressed sorrow and dismay at the incident. What more
do you want of him? He should maybe go to the home of each victim's
family and give them a rose for remembrance?
|
760.366 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:04 | 2 |
|
go easy on Dick, he's been eating out of the vending machines today.
|
760.367 | | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:10 | 8 |
| I'm still waiting for Dick to find my replies where I said anything
that could even remotely be misinterpreted as "KILL EM ALL NOW".
I've always gone out of my way to be careful not to jump to
conclusions and rush to such sentiments, so it's most disappointing
to be mistakenly characterized and summarized in this manner.
Chris
|
760.368 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:15 | 1 |
| Oopsie. Slur hereby retracted.
|
760.369 | What I'd expect of any President during a national crisis | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:16 | 12 |
| > > But the guy has been invisible.
>
> He has publicly expressed sorrow and dismay at the incident. What more
> do you want of him? He should maybe go to the home of each victim's
> family and give them a rose for remembrance?
I consider this to be an ongoing national crisis that should involve,
at the very least, periodic updates and statements from the President
of the United States.
Chris
|
760.370 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:17 | 2 |
|
.368 oafishial retraction
|
760.371 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:18 | 3 |
|
Di.... STOP! :-)
|
760.372 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:20 | 14 |
| .369
And I suppose you'd have expected Lincoln to brief the public daily
on Grant's strategy, too? Or Washington to issue daily updates on how
many of his soldiers' toes had fallen off at Valley Forge? No, I
forgot, Washington wasn't prez yet, only a general.
Let the people who are investigating the thing do their jobs. Let them
do it without having to worry about damage control over something the
prez might say that's inappropriate. It's not as if Slick could add
anything constructive to what the media are shoveling at us. Like as
not, anything he said would be accidentally on purpose misconscrewed by
the Repubs in an attempt to use it against him in the campaign. So he
shuts up. Either way he's furgled, I guess.
|
760.373 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:24 | 5 |
|
Think about all the stuff that has been said by others so far that has
people in a tizzy. Why should the President add to it? Like Dick said, let them
do their job, and let everyone else stay out of it.
|
760.374 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:25 | 8 |
| > <<< Note 760.372 by SMURF::BINDER "Errabit quicquid errare potest." >>>
> Either way he's furgled, I guess.
You got that right. People are either bitching and moaning because
he says too much (and it's all lies anyways) or he doesn't say
enough. Absolutely can't win.
|
760.375 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:28 | 2 |
|
<getting ready to hunker down in the foxhole>
|
760.376 | sit back and relax, speculate a little, take a laxative | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:30 | 12 |
| Chris,
Relax, don't get wound up by the media frenzy. People are working
on the situation. The prez has been around. I don't expect much of
anything from the prez at this time, he's done what he should. Now
all the talking mouths and sub-politicians are trying to get on the
tube and look important, or keep the frenzy going.
People are figuring out what's happened. I assume any meaningful
response will be covert (not /john) and we won't hear about it.
MadMike
|
760.377 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:30 | 3 |
|
When he doesn't say enough, is he telling the truth? :-)
|
760.378 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:42 | 1 |
| He only tells lies when his lips move.
|
760.379 | It still seems like something's missing here | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:43 | 12 |
| Whether his relative silence is a good strategy or not, it appears to
have some drawbacks. For one thing, it creates a "vacuum of official
leader remarks" that tends to be filled in a decentralized manner by
the likes of McCurry and Panetta (who are openly contradicting each
other as the media pointed out yesterday), as well as lesser luminaries
like mayors, congressmen, and an endless parade of other politicians.
His low-key approach so far must be confusing to the (potential)
terrorists and their sponsors, at least. Maybe that's part of the
grand plan...
Chris
|
760.380 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Wed Jul 24 1996 20:56 | 7 |
| But if he becomes visible in all of this, he will be accused of
campaigning.
Then we would be hearing Bob Dole saying something like "Bob Dole
would eliminate plane crashes. He stands for zero tolerance regarding
tragedy and would eliminate it if the American people chose him to be
President."
|
760.381 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Wed Jul 24 1996 21:03 | 5 |
| | <<< Note 760.378 by POLAR::RICHARDSON "Perpetual Glenn" >>>
| He only tells lies when his lips move.
Too funny!
|
760.382 | He can't please everyone (and most likely never me :-)) | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Wed Jul 24 1996 21:07 | 26 |
| > But if he becomes visible in all of this, he will be accused of
> campaigning.
This is true, and I'd be one of the first to accuse him of taking
political advantage of the situation. But there must be some middle
ground that he could take here. I think that one reason for all the
frenzies and tizzies in the media is that the "calming leader
public presence" has been somewhat lacking here. He could come on
for a few minutes once in a while and bring down the overall public's
anxiety level a few notches, as well as having the effect of getting
all these other politicians and media yakkers to pipe down.
> Then we would be hearing Bob Dole saying something like "Bob Dole
> would eliminate plane crashes. He stands for zero tolerance regarding
> tragedy and would eliminate it if the American people chose him to be
> President."
Bwah-hah. I still haven't posted my "itemized" version of "Why Bob
Dole should withdraw", but one of the items is his constant creepy
reference to himself in the third person by name, as if there was
some other "real" Bob Dole that's a separate and distinct person
from whatever/whoever he's trying to be for us little people. But
that's another topic...
Chris
|
760.383 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Wed Jul 24 1996 22:11 | 7 |
|
Clinto
Now that's a new name I have not heard before! :-) Has a nice ring to
it.
|
760.384 | OK... who's on 1st?? | MARIN::WANNOOR | | Wed Jul 24 1996 22:20 | 22 |
|
Clinton probably knows more than he lets on; probably can't
share much right now. Probably something bad, like embarassingly
bad, like the plane was taken down by friendly fire. Afterall
the US did drop a 500lb bomb by mistake in Bosnia recently and look
at the spate of F14s and others crashing, and helicopters colliding
in exercise runs. That possibility seems awfully real.
On the other hand he should be able to exercise some control or
coordination among his staff/mouthpieces so that they do not
continuously contradict one another. It does look STUPID and
incompetent.
I hope that the NY govr double and triple-checked his source before
declaring the newfound bodies. I suspect not. He was probably trying
to exploit any airtime and limelight; afterall that is any politician's
job #2, isn't it (job #1 is to be re-elected)?
By the way, who is in-charge? Who's the crisis manager? NTSB? FBI?
Pataki? NY mayor? that insufferable d'Amato?
|
760.385 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Jul 24 1996 22:22 | 4 |
|
White House just announced Clinto will visit the families
tomorrow.
|
760.386 | Quit whining and run somebody better than DOLE!!! | ALPHAZ::HARNEY | John A Harney | Wed Jul 24 1996 23:22 | 23 |
| re: .382 (ChrisR)
> -< He can't please everyone (and most likely never me :-)) >-
> > But if he becomes visible in all of this, he will be accused of
> > campaigning.
> This is true, and I'd be one of the first to accuse him of taking
> political advantage of the situation. But there must be some middle
> ground that he could take here.
>Note 760.385 TWA Flight 800 to Paris explodes 20 miles off Long Isl 385 of 385
>COVERT::COVERT "John R. Covert" 4 lines 24-JUL-1996 18:22
>
> White House just announced Clinto will visit the families tomorrow.
Nope, that's too far past middle ground. He's stumping.
He needs to do less of anything, and more of something.
And that's the only thing he can do. Otherwise he's stumping or hiding.
Got that?
\john
|
760.387 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Thu Jul 25 1996 02:42 | 10 |
|
There's plenty of soundbites and photo ops for all the politicians in
the country with this thing..
Jim
|
760.389 | Spit | 42333::LESLIE | My God! It's full of QAR's! | Thu Jul 25 1996 06:46 | 5 |
| Apparently a "journalist" faces up to a year in gaol for impersonating
a member of a victims family and infiltrating their hotel, attending
memorial services etc.
New York Daily News, maybe?
|
760.390 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Thu Jul 25 1996 10:00 | 13 |
|
Clinton will bite his lip, wipe a tear and feel their pain, the cameras
will catch it, and it will make great TV and campaign ad footage.
Meanwhile, they've located the "black boxes".
Jim
|
760.391 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Thu Jul 25 1996 11:27 | 3 |
| >.368 oafishial retraction
Au contraire. To fail to retract would have been oafish.
|
760.392 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Thu Jul 25 1996 11:40 | 13 |
| re: Clinton's invisibility
While it would seem helpful for various White House spokesmen to read
from the same page, I really don't see much to complain about regarding
Clinton's performance. I don't want to see the man grandstanding or
making political hay out of this tragedy; indeed, his invisibility is a
refreshing change from the parade of politicos mugging for the camera
and holding content-lite press conferences. If there's anything to
complain about, it's that the President ought to A) make sure that all
the necessary resources are brought to bear and B) reassure the public
that A is true. There's a perception that insufficient resources are
undertaking the salvage and investigation operations, and he is perhaps
most qualified to rectify this perception.
|
760.393 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Thu Jul 25 1996 11:49 | 5 |
| > <<< Note 760.391 by WAHOO::LEVESQUE "you don't love me, pretty baby" >>>
> Au contraire. To fail to retract would have been oafish.
well doy. it was just wordplay, doctah. nothing more.
|
760.394 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Thu Jul 25 1996 12:03 | 1 |
| Another straight line wasted...
|
760.395 | recorders taken to DC... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Thu Jul 25 1996 12:40 | 8 |
|
Now that they have the "black" boxes (actually, yellow, I'm told),
is there any chance these WILL NOT clear up the mystery of the
cause of the crash ? As I understand it, the usual thing is the
last words of the crew, usually, "Sh..!" If they didn't say this,
does that prove anything ?
bb
|
760.396 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Thu Jul 25 1996 12:46 | 8 |
| | <<< Note 760.395 by GAAS::BRAUCHER "Welcome to Paradise" >>>
| Now that they have the "black" boxes (actually, yellow, I'm told),
The one they showed on tv looked orange.... :-)
|
760.397 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 25 1996 12:49 | 3 |
| re .389
Woman from the New York Post.
|
760.398 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Thu Jul 25 1996 12:49 | 15 |
| > Now that they have the "black" boxes (actually, yellow, I'm told),
International orange.
> is there any chance these WILL NOT clear up the mystery of the
> cause of the crash ? As I understand it, the usual thing is the
> last words of the crew, usually, "Sh..!" If they didn't say this,
> does that prove anything ?
One's a voice recorder, one's a data recorder. If the voice recorder
has no indication of trouble (except a BOOM), and the data recorders
indicate that all systems were operating normally, then mechanical
failure seems increasingly unlikely. No known failure modes of engines
occur so rapidly as to prevent any data from being stored, for
example.
|
760.399 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Thu Jul 25 1996 12:56 | 15 |
|
NOVA did a program on the investigation of a crash in South America.
When they showed the opened FDR, the tape had jammed and no data was
recoverable. I think there had also been a problem with the power
supply. The program mentioned that there are about a hundred flight
engineering parameters sampled.
I really can't see why they cannot upload at least some critical flight
data in realtime via satellite link and record it at ground stations.
Granted that would still be a lot of data flying around for the 7000
airliners in the US alone, but it does not seem to be outside the realms
of possibility. These boxes cost tens of millions of dollars to recover,
with a good chance that they contain nothing.
|
760.400 | | MKOTS3::JMARTIN | Madison...5'2'' 95 lbs. | Thu Jul 25 1996 13:15 | 1 |
| Black/yellow/orange bax snarf!
|
760.401 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Thu Jul 25 1996 13:16 | 4 |
|
They said on the radio this morning that the recorders may not contain
any information that will solve this issue. Then again, maybe it will
be enough info to rule out mechanical failure.
|
760.402 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Thu Jul 25 1996 14:04 | 15 |
| International Orange?
Hmmmm.
I was talking to my brother, an air traffic controller, and he was
telling me how North America is being forced to switch to some system
developed by the Europeans which has somehow become an international
standard. He thinks it's ridiculous because the air traffic in the
united states alone is greater than the rest of the world combined. He
says our system works just fine thank you very much and that the rest
of the world she be adopting our way of doing things. Canada is #2
regarding air traffic.
How is it that the Europeans manage to force their systems on us? How
do they manage it?
|
760.403 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Thu Jul 25 1996 14:21 | 1 |
| It's the new world odor\r\o\d\o order.
|
760.404 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Thu Jul 25 1996 14:24 | 1 |
| Oh ya, I forgot about the Trilateral Commission.
|
760.405 | | ROWLET::AINSLEY | Less than 150 KTS is TOO slow | Thu Jul 25 1996 14:56 | 5 |
| re: .402
What specifically are you talking about? Weather reports?
Bob
|
760.406 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Thu Jul 25 1996 14:57 | 1 |
| Air traffic control systems.
|
760.407 | | ROWLET::AINSLEY | Less than 150 KTS is TOO slow | Thu Jul 25 1996 15:31 | 7 |
| re: .406
I'm not aware of any changes being made to U.S. ATC systems for
compliance with any European rules. I'm afraid I don't have any first
hand knowledge of Canadian ATC. Can you get details?
Bob
|
760.408 | next up... | WONDER::BOISSE | | Thu Jul 25 1996 15:58 | 12 |
|
the next conspiracy theory...
In the dead of night, the FBI paddles out to the crash scene, and drops
overboard a flight data/voice recorder that they put together with erroneous
data so as to cover up what really happened. The next day, the recorder is
retrieved by a diving team. Everything looks good for the FBI..the public will
be duped, the fools...until they realize they forgot to paint the orange box
black! Screwed again...
Bob
|
760.409 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Thu Jul 25 1996 16:08 | 4 |
| Hah! I know how they got the missile to reach the plane all the way up
there at 13,000 feet...
They stood on top of a 7,000 foot grassy knoll!
|
760.410 | But we've gotta do _something_! | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Jul 25 1996 17:01 | 9 |
| Clinton is about to announce new airline security rules.
Press thinks he's going to announce that domestic flights will require
all baggage to be x-rayed and matched to actually boarded passengers.
Of course, the same rules were in effect for TW 800, and fat lot of good
that did.
/john
|
760.411 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Thu Jul 25 1996 17:02 | 3 |
|
Does this mean if they lose your luggage, you too will be lost? :-)
|
760.412 | | MKOTS3::JMARTIN | Madison...5'2'' 95 lbs. | Thu Jul 25 1996 17:16 | 1 |
| Is this going to effect my Dec100 trip to West Psalm Beach????
|
760.413 | | MPGS::WOOLNER | Your dinner is in the supermarket | Thu Jul 25 1996 17:20 | 8 |
| Effect? Nah.
^
Affect? Yea! (Though you WALK through the valley of the.... shadow
^ of... jets)
NNTTM
Leslie
|
760.414 | | MKOTS3::JMARTIN | Madison...5'2'' 95 lbs. | Thu Jul 25 1996 17:21 | 1 |
| Halt....Who goes there??? Identify yourself!
|
760.415 | time for the TM OJM response | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Thu Jul 25 1996 17:24 | 1 |
| She has, OJM.
|
760.416 | fast crowd lately, like Olympians in prime time | MPGS::WOOLNER | Your dinner is in the supermarket | Thu Jul 25 1996 17:27 | 3 |
| 19.2119
Leslie
|
760.417 | | MKOTS3::JMARTIN | Madison...5'2'' 95 lbs. | Thu Jul 25 1996 17:41 | 1 |
| uhhh....sorry
|
760.418 | Yup, he feels their pain all right ;-) | DECLNE::REESE | My REALITY check bounced | Thu Jul 25 1996 20:18 | 8 |
| Well, Clinton meet with the families to express his condolences and,
promptly flew to Atlanta to catch tonight's gymnastic events. I
would have expected him back for the closing ceremonies....but to
"catch a few events during a light time in his weekly schedule"???
|
760.419 | What a ghoul | DECLNE::REESE | My REALITY check bounced | Thu Jul 25 1996 20:20 | 5 |
| Punishment for the New York Post reporter.....
make her standby for all the post mortem and forensic exams!!
|
760.420 | | 42333::LESLIE | Andy Leslie | DTN 847 6586 | Fri Jul 26 1996 06:55 | 3 |
| .419
I *do* hope she doesn't try and invoke the first amendment.
|
760.421 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Fri Jul 26 1996 11:22 | 5 |
| >promptly flew to Atlanta to catch tonight's gymnastic events. I
>would have expected him back for the closing ceremonies....but to
>"catch a few events during a light time in his weekly schedule"???
Personally I was glad to see the first family attending the games.
|
760.422 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Jul 26 1996 12:14 | 81 |
| Clinton tightens airport security
By Brian McGrory, Globe Staff, 07/26/96
WASHINGTON - President Clinton, faced with growing national concern about
airline safety in the wake of the TWA Flight 800 explosion and the ValuJet
crash, ordered a series of immediate security measures yesterday that range
from more hand-searching of luggage to more elaborate inspections of
airplanes on all international flights.
Starting within days, airports will no longer offer curbside check-in for
international flights, airport hotels will no longer be allowed to
transport luggage independent of passengers, and more bags will be screened
on domestic flights, according to Clinton and other officials.
``We will require preflight inspections for any plane flying to, or from,
the United States,'' Clinton said, standing on the tarmac at John F.
Kennedy International Airport in New York, with Air Force One behind him.
``Every plane, every cabin, every cargo hold, every time.''
Many of the procedures are in place, sporadically, at the nation's
airports, which are already on a relatively high alert status. Clinton's
order will increase existing measures - hand-searching luggage as air
travelers wait in the check-in line, for example - and add new ones, like
abolishing curbside baggage checks for flights abroad.
The result, according to Federal Aviation Administration administrator
David Hinson, will be initial delays that range between 15 minutes to a
half-hour on most flights, depending on the size of the plane. Those delays
eventually will shrink, he said, as they did last July when federal
officials tightened security after the Unabomber threatened to plant a bomb
on an airplane.
``We had some experience with this in Los Angeles, during the Unabomber
incident, you will recall,'' Hinson said. ``And what the airlines had
expected, that did not materialize. And, in fact, there were very few
delays. The airlines were very capable and able to deal with the issue.''
In addition, Clinton ordered Vice President Al Gore to oversee a review of
aviation safety and security needs and the pace of modernization of the air
traffic control system - a point of considerable controversy within the
aviation industry, where officials said the computers are outdated and
subject to failure. Gore was asked to complete the review within 45 days.
Clinton ordered the review and extra security measures even while
repeatedly warning Americans not to reach early conclusions on the cause of
the TWA explosion, which officials believe was a bomb, a missile or a
catastrophic mechanical failure.
``Let me again ask every American not to jump to conclusions,'' he said.
``This investigation is moving forward with great care and even greater
determination. And while we seek the cause of the disaster, let us all
agree that we must not wait to alleviate the concerns of the American
people about our safety and our security. In the wake of the ValuJet crash
and TWA 800, that concern has increased.''
Clinton's speech was delivered minutes after he emerged from a long session
with relatives of the victims on the TWA Flight 800.
While Clinton's order was less than sweeping, he immediately drew praise
from family members. The visit and tightened measures followed a week of
sometimes awkward inaction by the administration and the growing public
perception of a mishandled disaster investigation.
Transportation Secretary Frederico Pena said these increased measures
marked the third time in the past year that security has been heightened at
airports, the first time being last August and the second in October. Since
then, passengers have been widely required to present photo identification
when they check in for a flight. In addition, passengers are often asked if
they packed their own luggage and are they checking or carrying objects
aboard given to them by someone they do not know. Those procedures will
continue, officials said.
Pena, citing the last two instances of heightened security, predicted that
ticket prices would not be affected by the measures.
``I don't think ticket prices have been affected one way or another by
those measures,'' Pena said. ``So we should not see significant change
here.''
This story ran on page a1 of the Boston Globe on 07/26/96.
|
760.423 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus | Fri Jul 26 1996 12:28 | 7 |
|
Gee..... if Clinton did what he did, and then just went back to the
White House, then you could be satisfied? Why do I doubt this?
Glen
|
760.424 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 26 1996 13:02 | 23 |
| What I've learned from this note:
1) Recovering a plane wreck spread over 2 square miles, under 150' of water
in bad weather should be done in under a week.
2) It's all Clinton's fault.
3) THEY really know what happened, but aren't telling us.
4) Clinton's handling this all wrong.
5) Any moron would be able to find out (after 15 minutes of investigation)
whose fault it is, and commence bombing the crap out of them.
6) Clinton's behind the whole thing.
7) How to plant a bomb on a plane (thank you for this one)
8) It's all Clinton's fault.
Come to think of it, points 2, 4, 6, and 8 are routinely posted to every
other note in this conference as well.
I s'pose the investigators may know more than they're telling. Then again,
if telling us would interfere with their pursuit of the perps, I just might
not want to know right now. I'd be more comfortable if some third party
(such as the press) made that determination for us, but the press have
shown themselves to be completely untrustworthy in this respect.
Just a call for patience.
|
760.425 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 26 1996 13:19 | 9 |
|
I also was glad to see Clinton at the Olympics last night. I bet he
was hot in that suit, however.
Jim
|
760.426 | He needs to do less of anything, and more of something. | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Fri Jul 26 1996 15:05 | 3 |
| Thanks for my new mail personal name, Harn!
:-D
|
760.427 | | GAVEL::JANDROW | i think, therefore i have a headache | Fri Jul 26 1996 17:00 | 11 |
| re:
>>>Recovering a plane wreck spread over 2 square miles, under 150' of
>>>water in bad weather should be done in under a week.
(and all those that are like it)
it's not like the plane went down in one piece and it's just waiting to
be found...this huge plane is in pieces all over the place. ever drop
a glass bowl and even after ya clean it up, you still find pieces weeks
or months later???
|
760.428 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Jul 26 1996 17:01 | 3 |
| I was being sarcastic.
HTH.
|
760.429 | | NASAU::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:18 | 4 |
| Divers said it's like looking for a pin on a football field in the dark. Various
metals at odd angles waiting to snag.
And sharks in the area were also mentioned.
|
760.430 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:32 | 3 |
|
Well, tell them to hurry up, doggone it!
|
760.431 | They could call Shawn... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:35 | 7 |
|
Word is the CVR tape when played back consisted of 11.5 minutes
of normal activity, terminated by "an unusual sound". Federal
investigators are trying to determine what this sound matches
up with.
bb
|
760.432 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:42 | 1 |
| could it be the sound caused by the bomb blast i wonder?
|
760.433 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:42 | 3 |
|
You may be on to something there.
|
760.434 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:50 | 6 |
| Heard on the news that the sound on the flight 800 cvr tape sounds just
like the sound at the end of the Lockerbee tape, lending weight to the
explosion theory.
But we already knew there was an explosion, yes? Just don't know what
caused the explosion...
|
760.435 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:51 | 1 |
| yes, let's all stay calm.
|
760.436 | Looking better than a couple of days ago | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:52 | 16 |
| > could it be the sound caused by the bomb blast i wonder?
Well, that's probably the kind of sound that they expect to hear,
but they'd said it was an "unusual" sound. How's about the sound
of an approaching missile, that might be considered "unusual".
The recovery effort seems to have gotten its act together in the
last couple of days; there's lots more equipment out there, both
in quantity and sophistication, along with more and bigger ships.
And Clinton's made some presidential-sounding statements and visits,
so that's an improvement as well.
Now we can just hope that enough evidence turns up to allow the
definitive determination of a cause.
Chris
|
760.437 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:54 | 12 |
|
> Heard on the news that the sound on the flight 800 cvr tape sounds just
> like the sound at the end of the Lockerbee tape, lending weight to the
> explosion theory.
Unless...somebody got ahold of th lockerbee tape and spliced it on to the
TWA tape to throw the investigators off.
Jim
|
760.438 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:55 | 2 |
| Hey! Maybe that's the missing 20 minutes from Marjorie Woods' Nixon
tapes! {pant, all excited}
|
760.439 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:56 | 1 |
| Rosemary Woods. NNTTM.
|
760.440 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 26 1996 18:59 | 7 |
|
18 minutes
nnttm,hth,rmn
|
760.441 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:00 | 1 |
| 18.5 minutes, akshully.
|
760.442 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:01 | 2 |
| My goodness, I do round things off, don't I? Well, it *was* a memory
from the 60s, after all... (whatever that might mean)
|
760.443 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:02 | 3 |
|
<Mrs. Z. evil eye>
|
760.444 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:05 | 1 |
| from the '60s?
|
760.445 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Perpetual Glenn | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:06 | 1 |
| He rounded that one down.
|
760.446 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:22 | 11 |
| <<< Note 760.436 by DECWIN::RALTO "Jail to the Chief" >>>
>How's about the sound
> of an approaching missile, that might be considered "unusual".
Given that surface to air missles fly at supersonic speeds,
THAT sound would be " ".
;-)
Jim
|
760.447 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:24 | 5 |
| > <<< Note 760.446 by BIGHOG::PERCIVAL "I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO" >>>
missile(s).
(he did so well with MARCIA, too.)
|
760.448 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:27 | 1 |
| marsha marsha marsha!
|
760.449 | | SHRCTR::PJOHNSON | aut disce, aut discede | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:29 | 9 |
| OK, so they deduce that there was an explosion, and that it was caused
by some external force, like a SAM. What do they do then? And why
aren't they doing that now? Or are they?
There should be two equal efforts: recover the bodies and evidence,
and start to chase the cause.
JMO,
Pete
|
760.450 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 26 1996 19:32 | 9 |
|
Whack 'em once or twice with Bob Dole's paperclip.
Jim
|
760.451 | Might as well concentrate on prevention | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Jul 26 1996 20:13 | 45 |
| re: approaching missile silence
Whoops... okay, how about the sound of a "penetrating" missile?
Actually, how would one distinguish between an explosion caused
by an armed missile and an explosion caused by a planted bomb?
I suppose one could examine the debris for the direction in which
the metal was bent, and so on. It would seem difficult to isolate.
> OK, so they deduce that there was an explosion, and that it was caused
> by some external force, like a SAM. What do they do then?
Speculating, of course... if it's a SAM, I'm not at sure that there's
much they can do, other than to attempt to prevent future occurrences.
One possible method might be for someone like the Coast Guard to patrol
the coastal areas near airports, though this certainly covers a large
area, once you get more than a few miles out. It might be possible to
equip airliners with some defensive equipment (e.g., radar and "Willie
Peters" flares to distract heat-seekers), but I don't see that
happening (engineering problems and/or expense).
If it turns out to have been a planted bomb, there's probably more
that they can do in terms of future prevention. Clinton's recently
talked about beefed-up airport security, but to my knowledge he hasn't
brought into play the EGIS explosives detectors that I posted some
info about here a few thousand replies ago. Basically, you need to
be able to detect plastic explosive, and none of our currently-deployed
equipment does that.
> And why aren't they doing that now? Or are they?
They're planning some of the additional security measures now.
Who knows what else they may be doing?...
If you mean "identification of responsible parties, and retribution",
in my opinion, it's pretty unlikely. Yeah, it's frustrating, but we
might as well turn the adrenalin into something positive, i.e., what
we can do to attempt to prevent future occurrences. It's critical
to determine the most likely cause of this, as quickly as possible,
and then to act (rationally) to minimize the chances of it happening
again.
Chris
|
760.452 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Jul 26 1996 20:21 | 3 |
| Have they ruled out the possibility that it is mechanical failure, like
an engine fan blade that decided to go through a fuel tank instead of
through the passenger cabin?
|
760.453 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Jul 26 1996 20:28 | 10 |
|
The suspicion is that there would have been some warning, or at least some
indication from the crew that something was going wrong. The Flight Data
Recorder should provide the info on that.
Jim
|
760.454 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Jul 26 1996 20:35 | 4 |
| An engine coming apart would cause havoc, but it would not be
instantaneous havoc. Experts have said more than once that there is no
known possible scenario of a mechanical failure that would produce the
instantly catastrophic result that TWA 800 experienced.
|
760.455 | | HIGHD::FLATMAN | flatman@highd.enet.dec.com | Fri Jul 26 1996 21:10 | 12 |
| RE: .422
>WASHINGTON - President Clinton, ...
> ...the ValuJet
>crash, ordered a series of immediate security measures yesterday that range
>from more hand-searching of luggage to more elaborate inspections of
>airplanes on all international flights.
Rhetorical question, how would any of these "security measures" help in
another ValuJet type incident (i.e., carrying illegal cargo)?
-- Dave
|
760.456 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Sat Jul 27 1996 04:21 | 8 |
|
It wouldn't, but to the Ricki Lake nation, it looks like Bill is taking
charge and making things happen..
|
760.457 | | THEMAX::SMITH_S | | Sat Jul 27 1996 04:50 | 6 |
| re -1
>>Ricki Lake nation
I really like that label
-ss
|
760.458 | | CSC32::M_EVANS | watch this space | Sat Jul 27 1996 10:11 | 6 |
| Jim,
What as opposed to the Rush nation who believes clinton can do nothing
right?
|
760.459 | "They say" it's a bomb | 42333::LESLIE | Andy Leslie | DTN 847 6586 | Mon Jul 29 1996 11:59 | 3 |
| Reports here indicate that the first explosion separated the cockpit
from the fuselage, the plan then flew on for another 10 seconds,
whereupon a second explosion ripped the plane apart.
|
760.460 | uh-oh | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Jul 29 1996 13:09 | 8 |
| I'm picking up vibes. Apparently in this planes history it had
lost a panel on the wing. A panel that's near the fuel cell.
If this happened again (structural failure) and it caused a fuel
cell to leak.... kaboom.
This would be very bad because it'll ground every 747 around. Now
people are probably hoping it was a bomb that brought the plane down.
|
760.461 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Mon Jul 29 1996 13:39 | 2 |
|
heard on the news that they are almost positive it was a bomb.
|
760.462 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Jul 30 1996 12:27 | 8 |
|
In the news:
Another relative, John Felice, added, "We feel that we're being spoon-fed
bodies, three or four a day."
And you thought castor oil was bad!
|
760.463 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | you don't love me, pretty baby | Tue Jul 30 1996 12:43 | 5 |
| I wonder what the relatives of these people think the
government/investigators are doing, holding back the bodies? They've
gotta be in pretty rough shape at this point anyway considering the
natural process of decay as well as, shall we say, scavengers efforts
to reclaim the protein.
|
760.464 | | MKOTS3::JMARTIN | Madison...5'2'' 95 lbs. | Tue Jul 30 1996 14:12 | 2 |
| Actually, wouldn't the salt water help preserve somewhat...slow down
the process?
|
760.465 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | inhale to the chief | Tue Jul 30 1996 14:15 | 3 |
| The coldness of the water is of greater import than the salinity, as
far as I know. Nonetheless, one assumes scavengers are getting their
fill (as they are wont to do.) It's not a pretty picture.
|
760.466 | | CONSLT::MCBRIDE | Idleness, the holiday of fools | Tue Jul 30 1996 14:19 | 7 |
| Sea water is filled with things that will help decompose dead flesh but
not at the same rate as they would in the presence of O2. Bottom feeders
(no, congress is not on the sea floor), finned scavengers, toothed
scavengers, and the initially violent blast that most likely tore apart
more than a few bodies, and the area over which the debris is scattered,
it is unlikely there will be any large numbers of corpses found in one
place let alone intact.
|
760.467 | | DECWIN::JUDY | That's *Ms. Bitch* to you!! | Tue Jul 30 1996 14:20 | 12 |
|
Doctah,
I think they feel that the gov't is putting more importance on
bringing up the wreckage to find out what happened, rather than
putting more focus on recovering the 60+ bodies that are still
down there somewhere. (that's what I got out of the news I
saw anyway)
JJ
|
760.468 | | BUSY::SLAB | Don't drink the (toilet) water. | Tue Jul 30 1996 14:25 | 9 |
|
Heck, I'd have to agree with that.
It's obvious that everybody died, and the people won't be any
deader when the bodies are recovered.
BUT, clues to the blast could be lost if it takes too long to
recover the wreckage.
|
760.469 | | 42333::LESLIE | Andy Leslie | DTN 847 6586 | Tue Jul 30 1996 14:47 | 3 |
| Most of the Air India bomb victims' bodies were never recovered.
I doubt you'll see many more.
|
760.470 | In the name of humanity | KERNEL::FREKES | Excuse me while I scratch my butt | Tue Jul 30 1996 17:21 | 6 |
| <<<
I guess you have to sacrifice a few dead bodiesm to ensure that a lot
more living bodies are not lost in the furture. Makes sense to me.
Stevo
|
760.471 | Families are in for a rough time | DECLNE::REESE | My REALITY check bounced | Tue Jul 30 1996 17:48 | 13 |
| A forensic expert indicated that salt water would speed up decompo-
sition of the bodies. He was assisting the coroner for that district
and indicated that although 113 bodies were recovered in a timely
fashion, dental charts requested from families were slow in coming
in. Three days after the disaster the coroner's office had 59 dental
charts (now considered the only way to make positive identification);
he said some of the first charts received were from families of
the French passengers.
He went on to mention that if a bomb was responsible, dental charts
would only be effective for those passengers furthest away from the
initial explosion ;-(
|
760.472 | possibly why | HBAHBA::HAAS | more madness, less horror | Tue Jul 30 1996 17:53 | 7 |
| From the chemistry that my chemistry still encodes and can recall, the
salt water would cause the water to leave the body faster than fresh
water.
It's a matter of osmosis where the saline content of the sea water is
greater than the body and the water responds to this force.
|
760.473 | The sea is hungry. | EVMS::MORONEY | JFK committed suicide! | Tue Jul 30 1996 18:07 | 4 |
| re .472:
I don't think that has much to do with it. There are lots of hungry
critters in the sea.
|
760.474 | earlier degradation | HBAHBA::HAAS | more madness, less horror | Tue Jul 30 1996 18:08 | 3 |
| I was just talking about the decomposition.
When you start getting et, all bets are off...
|
760.475 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Jul 31 1996 11:58 | 168 |
760.476 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Jul 31 1996 11:59 | 5 |
| Note:
John P. Fish, vice president of American Underwater Search and Survey of
Cataumet, Mass.
|
760.477 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Wed Jul 31 1996 12:13 | 8 |
|
I hear the NTSB is disputing the NY times article. They say the
evidence is inconclusive (heard on NPR this morning).
jim
|
760.478 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Jul 31 1996 12:15 | 5 |
| Seating diagram:
http://bulova.zko.dec.com/group/covert/twa747seating.gif
/john
|
760.479 | not angry, just curious | MPGS::WOOLNER | Your dinner is in the supermarket | Wed Jul 31 1996 13:09 | 6 |
| Where has the Grapple been all this time, that it only arrived on
the scene yesterday? On the west coast? Was it not summoned
until very recently, or does it have cruising speeds of "slow, stop
and reverse"?
Leslie
|
760.480 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Wed Jul 31 1996 14:20 | 5 |
| The grapple was in Norfolk I believe. When you need a cop at an
accident, do you immediately send the whole department out to stand
around? Probably not. Navy ships are expensive to send someplace
and sit around twiddling their thumbs. Once the people on scene
realized they needed something like the grapple, they called for it.
|
760.481 | | ROWLET::AINSLEY | Less than 150 KTS is TOO slow | Wed Jul 31 1996 14:27 | 4 |
| I thought its sister-ship (Grasp?) was already on the scene and that
they decided they needed more help.
Bob
|
760.482 | 2 debris fields ? | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Wed Jul 31 1996 14:38 | 9 |
| I think the grapple and grasp are sister ships, but for some reason,
the grapple might have a heavier lift capability. Or, now that
I think of it... there may be 2 distinct debris fields about a
mile apart. They probably didn't know where all the wreckage was
initially, but now they have a decent idea of what is where, and it
would make sense to have the grapple a mile away picking up large
stuff in that area while the grasp stays over the initial area.
MadMike
|
760.483 | | MPGS::WOOLNER | Your dinner is in the supermarket | Wed Jul 31 1996 14:43 | 8 |
| Thanks. Seems to me we've been hearing about both of the sister ships
for over a week, but *I* hadn't heard where they were coming from. I
was surprised in the last couple of days to hear that the Grapple was
"expected to arrive Tuesday", so I thought I'd ask what the (perceived,
by me) delay was. (I know better than to ask, "Does anyone know
why..."!)
Leslie
|
760.484 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Jul 31 1996 14:49 | 2 |
| With the Grapple and Grasp both there, it would appear that the Navy
considers this a high priority. Where is the Glomar Explorer...?
|
760.485 | | CONSLT::MCBRIDE | Idleness, the holiday of fools | Wed Jul 31 1996 15:01 | 2 |
| I think they need Dirk Pitt and Al Giordano on the scene with the NUMA
Explorer.
|
760.486 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Wed Jul 31 1996 15:49 | 6 |
|
I really believe all parties involved are doing the best they can to
bring this investigation to a successful conclusion. cut them some
slack people. None of you have any real idea on the scope and size
of this undertaking. why don't you put some trust in these people
for a change!
|
760.487 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Wed Jul 31 1996 17:08 | 3 |
| > why don't you put some trust in these people for a change!
Because they're the government? :-)
|
760.488 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Wed Jul 31 1996 17:54 | 9 |
| <<< Note 760.472 by HBAHBA::HAAS "more madness, less horror" >>>
>It's a matter of osmosis where the saline content of the sea water is
>greater than the body and the water responds to this force.
From a long lost biology course. THe salinity of the water in the
human body and that of ocean water are nearly the same.
Jim
|
760.489 | not surprised | HBAHBA::HAAS | more madness, less horror | Wed Jul 31 1996 17:58 | 1 |
| I was fishing for some data on that...
|
760.490 | | EVMS::MORONEY | JFK committed suicide! | Wed Jul 31 1996 18:08 | 8 |
| > From a long lost biology course. THe salinity of the water in the
> human body and that of ocean water are nearly the same.
Believe it is quite a bit less. Something like 0.9% minerals for body fluids
and 3.2% for the sea. The reason why you can't survive when the only water
to drink is sea water is because the kidneys can't excrete salt in the
concentration of sea water, they excrete more water than you consume trying
to get rid of the salt and you actually dehydrate.
|
760.491 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Aug 01 1996 16:25 | 88 |
| They plumb the horror
By Mike Barnicle, Globe Columnist, 08/01/96
"It's horrifying. You don't even want to think about it," one of the
investigators working to find out how TWA Flight 800 exploded was
saying yesterday from Washington. "But more than likely, the people in
the back half of that plane were conscious for eight or nine seconds
before it blew up."
Two weeks ago, the Boeing 747 was decapitated at 13,000 feet by a
tremendous blast that broke the aircraft in two pieces and filled the
sky with debris. According to those assigned to a case most likely
involving 230 counts of homicide, bodies of passengers seated in the
first and business class sections - the front of the plane - were
riddled and disfigured from shrapnel.
``The back of the plane kept flying for about another mile,'' the
investigator said.
On that terrible evening, Flight 800 was more than an hour late taking
off from Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York. And it appears that
whatever device was employed to destroy all those lives, it was almost
certainly triggered by a timer set to go off when the plane was
somewhere out over the deep Atlantic. A case of human evil thwarted
somewhat by the human failure of ordinary flight delay.
Each new discovery from the depths comes out of the water as part of a
mystifying mosaic, a jigsaw of junk scarred by, most probably, a bomb.
Prior to being re-assembled, the individual pieces of the fractured
plane provide partial fingerprints, both chemical and metal, of the
explosion. Fourteen days after the whole country was shocked by this
mid-summer brutality, we are left with one funeral after another as
well as a great American detective story.
``Every major airport has millions of dollars worth of equipment to
X-ray people and luggage,'' an investigator stated. ``And every major
airport also has people getting paid $6 an hour to put chicken kiev on
planes a half hour before they take off.''
So the investigation revolving around the question - Who killed Flight
800? - is beginning to focus on a forward cargo hold of the plane
containing several tons of material, from the normal to the bizarre:
Ordinary air mail side-by-side with an unassembled Brunswick bowling
alley as well as packages of children's gold glitter, the type glued
innocently on school projects thought to be special and, perhaps, a
bomb big enough to cut the head off a 747.
What was being shipped? What companies transported the packages and
containers to Kennedy? Who handled it as it went from a pallet on the
tarmac to the shell of the aircraft? Who worked the food service
delivery? How many diplomatic pouches were on board? How many human
beings came into contact with the 747 between the time it arrived from
Athens that morning and the time it took off for Paris that night?
As always, the leg work is long and arduous. And it is being done daily
by people who never seek publicity or notoriety. Their job is the
precise opposite of what we find contained in so much of the culture
around us: The pathetic pursuit of celebrity.
To confirm this observation, we have to look no further than the day's
headlines. In Georgia, a simpleton of a security guard surfaces as the
principal suspect in the pipe bombing of an Atlanta park this past
weekend.
Guilty or not, the man clearly wanted to be famous. He wanted to be on
television. He wanted to be given that moment when fame would arrive
and he would be asked to give his opinion about a matter that had
everyone talking, coast-to-coast.
We live in a land where so many of us confuse being famous with being
smart. If you are on TV, even for a moment, you must be somebody.
Therefore, in order to become somebody, go out and do something that
will get you on television.
As always, the hard work of the republic is being done by those paid to
perform public service, anonymously. By detectives from the FBI and the
New York Police Department who have, over 14 days, been walking
sidewalks, knocking on doors, collecting pieces of information to help
them put a face and a motive behind a murder that took place more than
two miles high.
And by Navy divers who this morning continue to swim up to bodies whose
haunted faces remain frozen in a horror set by their final seconds of
terror, bodies ghoulishly and surreally laminated with gold glitter
being transported in the belly of the doomed Flight 800.
This story ran on page b1 of the Boston Globe on 08/01/96.
|
760.492 | Is all this accepted as fact now? | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Thu Aug 01 1996 17:14 | 37 |
| > Two weeks ago, the Boeing 747 was decapitated at 13,000 feet by a
> tremendous blast that broke the aircraft in two pieces and filled the
> sky with debris.
Is this pretty much the accepted scenario now? Did this theory come
about primarily based on the condition of the recovered wreckage, or
the condition of the victims based on their seating, or some
combination of both (or something else entirely)?
I haven't been following this closely lately... when I did see news
of it, the "broke in two pieces" theory had appeared kind of suddenly,
along with an expensive-looking animated sequence showing the explosion
and the plane (complete with TWA logo, which must have thrilled the
company) breaking in two, falling, exploding again, and so on.
Have they pretty much decided on a bomb, and have they presented the
evidence that leads them to this conclusion? There seems to be a lot
of (what I'd believe to be) assumptions in Barnicle's article that
are pretty much stated as fact, or nearly so.
> In Georgia, a simpleton of a security guard surfaces as the
> principal suspect in the pipe bombing of an Atlanta park this past
> weekend.
.
.
> Guilty or not, the man clearly wanted to be famous.
Guilty or not, apparently he's a "simpleton". :-) Interesting how
the media has run this guy through their shredder with even more than
their usual drooling fervor and intensity. If I were him, I'd be
running my VCR nonstop and getting a good lawyer. It's also
interesting that the Centennial Park bombing continues to occupy a
"higher place" in the news and gets more air time than the Flight 800
efforts.
Chris
|
760.493 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Aug 01 1996 17:21 | 7 |
| The nose and forward cabin of the aircraft was found about a mile closer to
the airport then the wing and rest of the fuselage.
Ever since this has been known, it has been pretty clear that the front
sheared off early in the incident.
/john
|
760.494 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Thu Aug 01 1996 17:41 | 13 |
|
> running my VCR nonstop and getting a good lawyer. It's also
> interesting that the Centennial Park bombing continues to occupy a
> "higher place" in the news and gets more air time than the Flight 800
> efforts.
Of course..something else will come along to replace the park bombing
and send the "reporters" off scurrying about seeking whom to blame and
stuffing microphones and cameras in the faces of the families of victims.
Jim
|
760.495 | Those poor people... | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Thu Aug 01 1996 17:42 | 3 |
| Aha, thanks for the update. Definitely chilling to ponder.
Chris
|
760.496 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Thu Aug 01 1996 17:47 | 3 |
|
Indeed..
|
760.497 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | inhale to the chief | Thu Aug 01 1996 18:39 | 4 |
| > We live in a land where so many of us confuse being famous with being
> smart.
Man, here's a candidate for P&K.
|
760.498 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 13:42 | 28 |
| Was listening to news about the resurrection of the bill that would
give FBI and other law enforcement authorities broad new authority to
conduct wiretaps, searches, etc., in the name of combatting terrorism.
Never mind that fewer than 10 wiretaps were requested on terrorism
suspects last year, out of the many thousands that were requested in
total.
They were talking about how disappointed the law enforcement community
was that congress didn't move on this after the Oklahoma City bombing,
but that now maybe things would be different.
And I'm thinking about all the firemen, police, and such people who
start and put out their own fires, commit then solve their own crimes,
etc., often for the purpose of showing their communities how important
they are and how they should not get their funding cut.
And I'm thinking if you're looking for suspects, and if nobody has made
any credible claims to authorship of the bombings in the name of
political terrorism, then maybe we should be looking for whoever might
profit from the bombings. Maybe they weren't exactly terrorism at all.
It's not like we don't have a whole lot of recently underutilized
professionals in this country trained to do that sort of work, and
motivated by unemployment and loyalty to the brotherhood of law
enforcement.
Just an uncomfortable thought...
|
760.499 | | ACISS2::LEECH | | Fri Aug 02 1996 14:08 | 2 |
| The FBI has just been itching to get broad wire-tap powers. This
troubles me.
|
760.500 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Aug 02 1996 14:12 | 19 |
| So they didn't get a chance to pass a tough new anti-terrorism law in
response to TWA 800.
Good.
Who the heck says they gotta pass a new law in response to every event that
leads the network news, anyway? AFAIK, it was already illegal to blow up
airliners. More to the point, some talking head on the radio last night
said that it's been some (insert depressing statistic here) years since a
judge has turned down a request for a wiretap order. I guess as it stands
now, if they want to wiretap someone, they get one of their legions of
lawyers to write a "pretty please" note, and some judge says "Okey dokey."
And this allegedly needs improving.
Laws passed in haste are laws that will soon be regretted. Laws passed in
haste are laws that no one took the time to think through.
Kinda depressing that the core reasoning behind all of this is to get extra
opinion poll points for the next election.
|
760.501 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Aug 02 1996 14:31 | 13 |
| Glob this AM carries a story suggesting that the explosion was caused
by a bomb in a food cart in the first-class section. Eleven minutes
after wheels-up, drink service would have started, but in first class
drinks are served by hand carry, not from carts. Food carts would be
secured in cabinets.
Evidence for this suggestion is a piece of one of the food carts that
was extracted from the body of a first-class passenger. This "chip"
would have had to be blown through the bulkhead of the cabinet, or the
door would have had to be blown off.
No trace of explosive was found on the front cargo hold door that was
recovered.
|
760.502 | | GENRAL::RALSTON | Only half of us are above average! | Fri Aug 02 1996 14:49 | 4 |
| >Who the heck says they gotta pass a new law in response to every event
>that leads the network news, anyway?
Well, they are called "Lawmakers" aren't they? We give them the power.
|
760.503 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Aug 02 1996 14:58 | 2 |
| Yabbut I though we were paying them to be incompetent fools. I wish they'd
just go back to being harmless figureheads.
|
760.504 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 15:04 | 5 |
| What's even more worrisome is that if it's some rogue feebie or spook
or batf agent or even some entire rogue law enforcement group that is
planting a few bombs to encourage congress and the American people to
make the right decisions about giving them more power and money, then
who is ever going to be good enough and powerful enough to catch them?
|
760.505 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Fri Aug 02 1996 15:08 | 2 |
|
<---- hardly.
|
760.506 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 15:21 | 1 |
| <---- You don't think that could happen?
|
760.507 | Information Control is the common thread lately | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Aug 02 1996 15:37 | 14 |
| How would increased wiretapping have prevented the Centennial Park
bombing?
How would increased wiretapping have prevented the TWA Flight 800
disaster?
I believe that the real benefit of increased wiretapping is so that
whoever is currently occupying political power can keep better tabs
on the dealings, affairs, finances, etc., of their opponents. The
increased information gathering fits in quite nicely with the likes
of Filegate and the "Big Brother" WH computer system (the press has
spiked the story on the latter quite effectively).
Chris
|
760.508 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Fri Aug 02 1996 15:50 | 6 |
|
you are starting to remind me of MMercier. No, you all seem to think
law enforcement personnel are mostly crooked or somehow unsavory.
Granted, there are a few bad apples in every segment in society, but
on the whole they are honest and trustworthy. Believe what you want,
I'll be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
|
760.509 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Aug 02 1996 15:54 | 2 |
| oy, remember the way he ranted and raved?
unbelievable.
|
760.510 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Fri Aug 02 1996 16:10 | 10 |
| There's no conspiracy or agenda, other than the rather simple one that so
many officials assume that performing such hollow acts actually makes a
difference. Human nature, I guess. When things happen that are out of
your control, you want to do things to control them, even if it doesn't
really control them.
In individuals, it'd be called obsessive compulsive disorder. For
instance, someone who thinks that walking through a door three times and
flipping the lights on and off twice will ward the boogey man away. The
gummint does the same thing, but just with bigger toys.
|
760.511 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 16:35 | 12 |
| >How would increased wiretapping have prevented...
It wouldn't. Moving in the direction of more police state powers and
less liberty is not going to help, and is certainly going to hurt
freedom.
That's why the law didn't pass the first time, and that's why it
shouldn't pass this time or any other time, but if these things keep
happening, then it eventually will pass. That's what makes me
want to consider the government one of the suspects -- it obviously has
something to gain: Power.
|
760.512 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 16:40 | 15 |
| > you all seem to think law enforcement personnel are mostly crooked
No we don't. But those few bad apples you admit are there are all it
takes. In fact it only takes 1 bad apple. Remember the intelligence
connection with JFK's killer? Remember what Oliver North did? Ever
heard stories about cops or firemen who committed crimes or started
fires?
We all have. All I'm saying is that the feebies and other gov't
agencies are not immune to bad apples, whether they be crazy, or
self-serving, or fanatically patriotic.
The gov't is full of ordinary people, and it has something to gain.
Therefore it is fair game for the list of suspects. But who is going
to watch the watchers?
|
760.513 | ? | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Fri Aug 02 1996 16:46 | 5 |
| | But who is going to watch the watchers?
Ted Gunderson.
-mr. bill
|
760.514 | | PCBUOA::KRATZ | | Fri Aug 02 1996 16:47 | 14 |
| re: piece of food cart in passenger
I don't buy the bomb theory. My pet theory is that the airframe simply
failed; 300,000 pounds of jet A1 exploding after the aircraft began to
disentegrate could accomplish quite a bit of manglement of dishes and
people.
Has anybody heard what airspeed they were at when it happened?
At 20 minutes after takeoff and only at 13,500 feet (and very late,
and clear of the 10,000 foot 250 knot limit which routinely gets
ignored anyhow), I wouldn't doubt they were pushing all the speed
they could muster.
.02 K
|
760.515 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Aug 02 1996 16:52 | 10 |
|
Evidently you've missed the statements by experts that such a disentegration
simply could not happen (and that there was NO indication of problems
from the cockpit).
Jim
|
760.516 | | PCBUOA::KRATZ | | Fri Aug 02 1996 17:14 | 6 |
| The DeHaviland Comets used to do a pretty good job of self-
disentegration (weak wing root connection). It was quite
a mystery for a while too as to why. Crews didn't have time
to do anything.
K
|
760.517 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Aug 02 1996 17:20 | 9 |
|
Yes, and that was more than one aircraft pretty early in it's history.
The 747 has been in production for ~25 years with no such history.
Jim
|
760.518 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 17:30 | 9 |
| Seems like there would have been a few seconds of sounds left on the
VDR if that were the case, but maybe not if the wiring parted right
away. Hopefully with the recorders in the tail, they didn't run single
wire connections for sound and power all the way to the front of the
plane so that any disconnection would stop the recorders... But who
knows?
Must have been something like that for both recorders to stop instantly
after an explosion in the front of the plane.
|
760.519 | | PCBUOA::KRATZ | | Fri Aug 02 1996 17:40 | 7 |
| I can remember at least one 747 incident with a chunk of
forward skin ripping away (much like the Aloha 737) under
the first class section. Speaking of, the 737 has been in
production just as long and has a very good record, but
nevertheless has its share of unexplainable massive failures
(Pittsburgh and Colorado Springs).
K
|
760.520 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:04 | 3 |
| That's the one where the cargo door blew off, skin ripped off, some
seats came out, complete with their occupants, yes?
|
760.521 | back in biz ? | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:06 | 5 |
|
According to a ValueHurtlingDeathTraps spokesperson, they are
ready to resume operations if the FAA will let thim in 3 weeks.
bb
|
760.522 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:14 | 18 |
|
> I can remember at least one 747 incident with a chunk of
> forward skin ripping away (much like the Aloha 737) under
> the first class section. Speaking of, the 737 has been in
> production just as long and has a very good record, but
> nevertheless has its share of unexplainable massive failures
> (Pittsburgh and Colorado Springs).
Yes, however with the 737 incidents the crew was (sadly) aware of
their impending demise.
And the 747 with the skin ripping was related, as I recall, to the cargo
door blowing off (or was that the Turkish Airlines DC10?).
Jim
|
760.523 | | PCBUOA::KRATZ | | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:15 | 6 |
| re .520
The cargo-door-blows-off-and-sucks-some-rows-out is best known
from the DC-10 crash outside of Paris (ironically sucking out
a casket as well). The skin metal fatigue is best known from the
Aloha 737.
K
|
760.524 | | FCCVDE::CAMPBELL | | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:21 | 4 |
| TWA flight 800 was not high enough for explosive decompression to
occur.
--Doug C.
|
760.525 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:31 | 16 |
|
> The cargo-door-blows-off-and-sucks-some-rows-out is best known
> from the DC-10 crash outside of Paris (ironically sucking out
> a casket as well). The skin metal fatigue is best known from the
> Aloha 737.
As I recall, the cargo door blew off on the DC10 (caused by a latch not
properly closed) in Paris causing the floor to buckle, thus rendering the
hydraulic and electrical controls (mounted under the floor) inoperable
and causing the aircraft to nose dive from ~x0000 feet.
Jim
|
760.526 | | BUSY::SLAB | Crazy Cooter comin' atcha!! | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:33 | 3 |
|
Hmmm, sounds like they'd subcontracted the latches from ChryCo.
|
760.527 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:43 | 5 |
| I thought there was a cargo door skin seats passengers ripped off
somewhere over the ocean, like the pacific?
When there are so many plane crashes that the details all run together,
maybe it's time to take a train.
|
760.528 | Not law-enforcement, but the politicians who control them | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:45 | 33 |
| > you are starting to remind me of MMercier.
Why, thank you! :-) I always liked his style.
> No, you all seem to think
> law enforcement personnel are mostly crooked or somehow unsavory.
Who's talking about law enforcement personnel? I'm talking about
politicians who want to abuse the law enforcement facilities that
are under their control, to do their politically-motivated bidding,
e.g. Filegate. I do, in fact, believe that politicians (not law
enforcement personnel) are "mostly crooked or somehow unsavory".
> Granted, there are a few bad apples in every segment in society, but
> on the whole they are honest and trustworthy.
Yes they are, but the same qualities that motivate them to pursue a
career in this field also motivate them to want to keep everything
under tight control at a cost that's frequently out of proportion to
the risk. I don't subscribe to that kind of extremism. I'm willing to
risk a bit of safety to maintain our current level of freedom.
> Believe what you want,
> I'll be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
To do anything they want to do? There's a spectrum involved here,
of course. I'd imagine most everyone has some "comfort level" of
law-enforcement measures beyond which they'd say "hey, hey, enough".
Chris
|
760.529 | tunnel vision | SMURF::WALTERS | | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:48 | 2 |
| I fear the LA to Hawaii express will be as short lived as TWA 800
|
760.530 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:49 | 8 |
| re .527
The incident over the Pacific was a 747.
The plane returned to Honolulu and landed safely (minus a few unlucky
passengers).
/john
|
760.531 | | FCCVDE::CAMPBELL | | Fri Aug 02 1996 18:50 | 8 |
| reply .527
United Airlines 747 off Hawaii. Front right cargo door blew off. Some
passengers were sucked out. The two right engines were FODed as a
result. The plane was barely able to make it back to Hawaii, but it
did. The cargo door was later recovered by the Navy in deep water.
--Doug C.
|
760.532 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:13 | 4 |
| Now that you can drive from New York to London, that would be the way
to go.
Eschew disintegration.
|
760.533 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:16 | 5 |
|
.528
er Chris, I was referring to Mr. Goodwin, not you. You are getting
a little paranoid. :-)
|
760.534 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:21 | 17 |
| The 747 can TAKE OFF with only one engine lit. I don't know about
how the 747 in question barely made it back to hawaii. The 747 is
pretty beefy, and there's no comparison to the 737's. The 737
takes off/lands tons of times in hawaii, short quick hops, with
salt air, lots of cycles. The 747 takes off and goes to Tokyo or
someplace. One cycle.
I did mention earlier that there's a real teeny chance that a
panel on the wing failed. Aparently this has happened TO THIS
PLANE in the past. A bunch of jet-a vaporizing behind a 747
would be an explosive situation, no pun intended.
Just some comments from the peanut gallery. I'm not a pilot but
I worked for the company that put the engines on and used to go out
and pick up the pieces after a screw up.
MadMike
|
760.535 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:25 | 7 |
| Oh ya, if I recall, the 737's roof peeled open like a can opener
was put to it. The 747's cargo door blew open because it wasn't
latched securely. The latch was redesigned to shut the door - period.
the 737 failed because of the number of cycles and corrosion of
the airframe.
MadMike
|
760.536 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:29 | 2 |
| are you sure? i thought the wing cracked
off like a popsicle stick?
|
760.537 | Oh sure, toy with my emotions, with fickle compliments :-) | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:32 | 9 |
| > er Chris, I was referring to Mr. Goodwin, not you. You are getting
> a little paranoid. :-)
Oh, well, your note immediately followed mine and all, so...
So I guess this means that I don't remind you of Mercier after
all, harumph! :-\ (Suzanne face, thanks JM :-))
Chris
|
760.538 | ? | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:35 | 9 |
| re: are you sure? i thought the wing cracked
Directed at? There've been several screw ups in Hawaii over the
past 10 years or so. I'm thinking the aloha air 737, that sucked
a stewardess out, and the United 747 heading to Tokyo that had the
cargo door open up. I know there've been others. The popsicle
stick must have happened elsewhere.
MadMike
|
760.539 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:37 | 3 |
| Is it true what some guy told me that the wings are *glued* on to the
fuselage, and they are flexible enough that the wing tips can move up
and down by 30' or so?
|
760.540 | | FCCVDE::CAMPBELL | | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:39 | 5 |
| >The 747 can TAKE OFF with only one engine lit.
Horse manure!
--Doug C.
|
760.541 | | BUSY::SLAB | DILLIGAF | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:41 | 7 |
|
RE: .539
30'?? That's about the same height as the entire plane.
30" I could believe. There has to be SOME flex involved.
|
760.542 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:44 | 1 |
| they use horse manure to glue the wings on?
|
760.543 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:50 | 14 |
|
The program on the development and manufacturing of the 777 showed a test
of the wing that indeed had the thing moving horizontally. I don't think
it was 30', but they did put the thing through quite a test.
I seriously doubt that a 747 can take off on one engine.
Jim
|
760.544 | | EVMS::MORONEY | JFK committed suicide! | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:50 | 16 |
| re .539:
> Is it true what some guy told me that the wings are *glued* on to the
> fuselage, and they are flexible enough that the wing tips can move up
> and down by 30' or so?
They only flap 30' right at take off, when you need lots of lift. At
cruising altitude they only flap about 10' or so, unless the pilot finds
a nice thermal, when the pilot doesn't have to flap the wings at all.
re Shawn: Ever see a bird fly? The amount the wings flap is several times
the height of the bird's body. Airplanes are more efficient than Nature's
birds itself, only having to flap the height of the body, and then only
at take-off.
-Madman
|
760.545 | | ASIC::RANDOLPH | Tom R. N1OOQ | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:51 | 3 |
| Haven't you folks ever looked out the window?
The wings do flex by several feet at the tips on most big planes. Watch the
wingtips when you hit some turbulence.
|
760.546 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:53 | 1 |
| Aaaaaaargh. The wings have fallen off ZKO!!!
|
760.547 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Fri Aug 02 1996 19:55 | 1 |
| Musta flown too near to Sun
|
760.548 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:01 | 11 |
| I thought a 747 would need at least 2 engines running to take off,
but according to someone that tried to blow them up intentionally during
FAA certification, the 747 only needs one engine to get off the
ground.
Wings are riveted onto the airframe, probably bonded as well with
adhesive too. Technically glue. The wings do flex in flight.
Look at the B-52 for an example. The 30' figure might have been
the breaking point of the wing though during stress tests.
MadMike
|
760.549 | | BIGQ::SILVA | quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus/ | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:13 | 4 |
|
| The 747 can TAKE OFF with only one engine lit.
Planes have a designated engine????
|
760.550 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:15 | 2 |
| wouldn't the plane go round and round in
circles with only one engine on?
|
760.551 | | GENRAL::RALSTON | Only half of us are above average! | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:16 | 1 |
| No, they just move all the passengers to the opposite side. :)
|
760.552 | | NQOS01::s_coghill.dyo.dec.com::S_Coghill | Luke 14:28 | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:20 | 15 |
| 747 wing tips is about 12 ft (6 ft each direction).
Engines will sway back and forth about 4 ft (2 ft
each direction). This trivia was presented in one
of the aviation courses I took in school back in
1975 or so.
I don't know about 747s, but the Grumman-American
AA-1A and AA-5 didn't use rivets. The skin was
glued onto the airframe and used honeycomb aluminum
for a lot of the construction. Grumman touted this
in their marketing because is was the technology
they developed for the Apollo program.
No rivets made for a very clean surface. There were
a few flush, Phillips-head screws in the fuselage.
|
760.553 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:22 | 12 |
| .514
> I don't buy the bomb theory.
Reports later today indicate that pieces of first-class dinnerware
china have been found embedded in the plastic of the cabin walls. This
is consistent with a bomb in a food cart. It is not consistent with
massive structural failure of the airframe.
Remember also that there were two explosions reported by witnesses. An
airframe failure would not produce a flash-yielding explosion audible
on the ground.
|
760.554 | And I thought /john was fast with the incorrect news.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:33 | 5 |
| | Reports later today
I guess we'll hear that on the Clairvoyant News Network?
-mr. bill
|
760.555 | Is there a difference? | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:40 | 5 |
| Can they tell the difference between an explosion caused by a
bomb planted in, say, a food cart, and an explosion caused by an
impact of an armed missile in the same general location?
Chris
|
760.556 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:41 | 13 |
| <<< Note 760.518 by RUSURE::GOODWIN "Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger" >>>
>Hopefully with the recorders in the tail, they didn't run single
> wire connections for sound and power all the way to the front of the
> plane so that any disconnection would stop the recorders... But who
> knows?
The voice recorder is located in the front of the plane, the flight
recorder is located in the tail. Apparently though, there is a
single point of failure for power to both boxes. The central
electrical panel is located in the forward section.
Jim
|
760.557 | | PCBUOA::KRATZ | | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:41 | 12 |
| The two explosions witnesses saw could have been one wing's worth
of fuel exploding, then t'other. Testing so far has shown no
residue from [an orginal] explosion. If the front of the aircraft
failed in some respect at 300+ knots (essentially subjecting part of
the cabin to tornado-like wind forces), pieces of china could
get embedded in walls without too much imagination.
A private pilot in the area reported that the dual explosions occured
at @7500 feet anyhow (he flew thru the smoke), about a minute after the
original catastrophic failure occured at 13,500.
K
|
760.558 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:44 | 12 |
| <<< Note 760.523 by PCBUOA::KRATZ >>>
> The cargo-door-blows-off-and-sucks-some-rows-out is best known
> from the DC-10 crash outside of Paris
That was the Turkish Airlines crash. There were no survivors.
There has been a similar failure on a 747 (UAL I believe) but
the aircraft was able to land safely (lost two passengers and
a flight attendant I think).
Jim
|
760.559 | | EDSCLU::JAYAKUMAR | | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:46 | 11 |
| >> wouldn't the plane go round and round in
>> circles with only one engine on?
This has always puzzled me. If only one engine situated
off-centre - like in a wing - is giving power, won't the plane bank on one
side, effectively going in circles ..?
Can some aeronautical experts in the box explain ..?
Thanks in advance
/Jay
|
760.560 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:46 | 7 |
| .555
> impact of an armed missile in the same general location?
No known armed missile would explode inside the fuselage of its target
craft. Current missiles are heat-seekers designed to fly up the
tailpipe of an engine.
|
760.561 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:50 | 9 |
|
Years ago I read an excellent book called "Destination Disaster", based on
the Turkish Airlines crash in Paris. It was also an indictment on Mcdonnelll
Douglas' rush to get into the widebody aircraft market.
Jim
|
760.562 | Or any others | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:51 | 7 |
| > No known armed missile would explode inside the fuselage of its target
> craft. Current missiles are heat-seekers designed to fly up the
> tailpipe of an engine.
How about radar-guided missiles? Are any of these around?
Chris
|
760.563 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:51 | 19 |
| .557
> The two explosions witnesses saw could have been one wing's worth
> of fuel exploding, then t'other.
Except that experts from both Boeing and the NTSB have stated firmly
and repeatedly that there is no known failure scenario that would even
cause fuel to explode in that manner. Kerosene is NOT a highly
volatile substance - the burning of kerosene in a jet engine is a
controlled burn, not an explosion, and pouring kerosene on a running
engine will not even cause that kerosene to ignite.
Furthermore, such a scenario, even postulating the necessary magic to
cause the fuel to explode, does not yield a debris field where the
front of the aircraft, ahead of the wing, strikes the surface a mile or
more before the rest of the plane. The plane was decapitated; this
mode of destruction is, according to those same experts, not consonant
with anything other than massive structural failure of the fuselage
forward of the wing, such as an explosion would initiate.
|
760.564 | | NQOS01::s_coghill.dyo.dec.com::S_Coghill | Luke 14:28 | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:52 | 7 |
| >This has always puzzled me. If only one engine situated
>off-centre - like in a wing - is giving power, won't the plane bank on one
>side, effectively going in circles ..?
The pilot would counteract this by applying rudder in the direction
of the functioning engine. Engine on the left, give it left rudder;
on the right, then right rudder.
|
760.565 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:54 | 5 |
| .562
> How about radar-guided missiles? Are any of these around?
Not as SAMs, no, at least not since the Nike-Hercules...
|
760.566 | | NQOS01::s_coghill.dyo.dec.com::S_Coghill | Luke 14:28 | Fri Aug 02 1996 20:57 | 11 |
| Also, I heard a report that the engines in that plane
burn JP-8. JP-8 has a very high flashpoint. I have one
friend who is a flight-line worker who tells me a lit
cigarette thrown into a bucket of JP-8 would simply
be extinguished. JP-8 would have to totally vaporize,
as opposed to atomized, to even approach that type of
explosion.
Question: When did JP-8 come into existance? The fuel
dump at WPAFB only has silos marked JET A and JP-4.
Is this a commercial fuel only?
|
760.567 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Aug 02 1996 21:00 | 1 |
| how about those ear wax missles?
|
760.568 | | BIGQ::SILVA | quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus/ | Fri Aug 02 1996 21:04 | 1 |
| they have q-tips on them, right?
|
760.569 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Aug 02 1996 21:08 | 1 |
| one ear wax q-tip could blow say, lebanon, to smithereens.
|
760.570 | | BIGQ::SILVA | quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus/ | Fri Aug 02 1996 21:10 | 1 |
| That's so nice to see a band at the end of being blown!
|
760.571 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Fri Aug 02 1996 21:13 | 1 |
| 8^O
|
760.572 | it'll blow up | PCBUOA::KRATZ | | Fri Aug 02 1996 21:50 | 12 |
| An example of a violent fuel explosion of a large aircraft can be
seen behind the hanger at Galt airport in Ringwood, Illinois. A
KC135 lit up the sky one morning in an explosion about 15 years
ago and pieces rained down on Galt (a small GA airport). Thunderstorms
were in the area. There were witnesses that said they saw a huge
fireball. Admittedly a KC135 is a tanker, but the amount (and type)
of fuel should be similiar to what a 747 carries. The Air Force
didn't even come pick up the pieces... the owner of the airport was
forced to clean it up.
K
|
760.573 | | ROWLET::AINSLEY | Less than 150 KTS is TOO slow | Mon Aug 05 1996 01:22 | 6 |
| re: .532
How can you drive from N.Y. to London??? The group that tried it from
London to N.Y. were forced to fly across the Bering Strait.
Bob
|
760.574 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Aug 05 1996 12:18 | 5 |
|
The media are now reporting that the CIA believes that there
is an Iranian connection to the destruction of TW 800.
/john
|
760.575 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Aug 05 1996 12:43 | 8 |
| > How can you drive from N.Y. to London???
I heard on radio that some group just drove from London to NY. They
went throught the tunnel to France, then across the frozen Bering
Strait. I think they said they used some special vehicles that would
negotiate the ice that bridges the strait in winter.
Musta been pretty tricky going, I would think.
|
760.576 | done that.. | CSC32::C_BENNETT | | Mon Aug 05 1996 16:37 | 6 |
| > How can you drive from N.Y. to London???
Some group already did this - I believe it was documented on a PBS
Nova or Frontline show...
They drove a dual tank looking thing across the ice-caps...
|
760.577 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Aug 05 1996 16:44 | 3 |
| So you're saying my Buick might not make it?
Drat.
|
760.578 | Very interesting special | DECLNE::REESE | My REALITY check bounced | Mon Aug 05 1996 21:30 | 13 |
| I saw the show on PBS. Bob is partially correct though; the
amphibious gizmo would only hold so many people (planners
had hoped NOT to use it, but the straits were not frozen enough
to hold the cars and support trucks. Several members of the
expedition flew to Alaska and met up with the expedition's leader.
The gizmo kept coming off its tracks; I think the expedition team
actually walked the last mile or two over the straits.
I amazed anyone made it to the straits; the weather in Siberia was
horrific. I'm amazed someone didn't freeze to death while they
waited out the blizzards trapped in their vehicles.
|
760.579 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Aug 06 1996 04:00 | 110 |
| TIME Magazine
August 12, 1996 Volume 148, No. 8
IF IT WAS A BOMB, THEN WHODUNIT?
THE UNFINISHED SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE IS ALREADY RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT
CULPRITS
CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY
The ocean stubbornly held on to its mysteries for most of last week. It was
especially uncooperative on Thursday for the men and women investigating the
crash of TWA Flight 800. Rain and strong winds disrupted and eventually
interrupted search operations. But on Friday there was a breakthrough. Deep
Drone 7200, a remotely operated robot outfitted with cameras that can
explore ocean depths without divers, located part of the cockpit, "the nerve
center of the aircraft," as Robert Francis, vice chairman of the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), described it. Said James Kallstrom, the
FBI's lead investigator: "I just think that somewhere in the front of the
plane is a clue." Investigators generally believe that if a bomb destroyed
Flight 800, it exploded in the front of the aircraft. Examining the cockpit
could help prove that theory.
As the Navy continued to search for and recover bodies, investigators have
begun to speculate not only about the cause of the disaster but also about
the originators of what they are almost certain is a monstrous crime. A
well-placed U.S. intelligence source has told TIME that calls and
transmissions tracked by the CIA out of Tehran "have raised suspicions" that
there is an Iranian connection to the crash. The CIA is also looking at
intelligence on a meeting of terrorist leaders in Iran the month before the
crash to see if any green light was given for the attack. "There's a hard
look being taken at the Iran possibility," says a senior U.S. intelligence
official. However, he adds, the intelligence gathered so far is "vague,
nothing solid." Even so, he says, it is "tantalizing."
FBI agents, working closely with intelligence agencies here and abroad, are
scouring all incoming reports about a possible Iran connection. Of interest
are the recent movements by an alleged Hizballah terrorist named Hussein
Mikdad, who is purportedly backed by Iran. On April 4, Mikdad took a
Swissair flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv with bomb parts hidden in a carry-on
bag. Eight days later, Mikdad blew off both his legs and one arm when a bomb
he was assembling in an east Jerusalem hotel room accidentally detonated.
Israeli security officials believe Mikdad was building the bomb using a
powerful plastic explosive called RDX and planned to place it aboard a
flight leaving Ben Gurion Airport. This was the first known time that
Hizballah slipped an operative into Israel by way of an international
airline. FBI agents are planning to travel to Israel to study Mikdad's
methods for any telltale bits of bombcraft that may be traced to TWA Flight
800.
The Iranian links to terrorism were further highlighted last week when
Defense Secretary William Perry, in a National Public Radio interview,
hinted that an ongoing Saudi investigation of the June 25 bombing of a U.S.
military complex in Dhahran may "possibly" point to Iran's involvement. He
suggested that the U.S. might have to consider "strong action."
In the TWA Flight 800 case, federal points of inquiry already assume the
existence of a crime. If there was a bomb, did it contain Semtex, a powerful
Czech explosive used by Libyan agents in the Pan Am 103 bombing? Or a
lower-grade nitroglycerine-nitrocellulose mix? And what evidence can be
extrapolated from the existing clues to help answer these questions?
Those clues are being arduously analyzed by experts at the NTSB and the FBI.
One cluster of NTSB engineers is tracking the trajectories of pieces of
wreckage from where they landed to where they began to fall. This is done
with computers that factor in radar records, wind direction and speed, and
other data. The studies will help experts determine the sequence of
catastrophic events that led to the plane's destruction. Also, the sharp
sound at the end of the cockpit voice recording is being analyzed in
minuscule detail, with attention to the different speeds at which the
vibrations travel through air and metal. If the gap between the sound's
arriving by air and by metal is small, that means the event was close to the
cockpit because the vibrations did not have time to gain a large lead.
One conjecture being explored by some government counterterrorism
specialists is that the blast was caused by a "fuel-air explosion," probably
indicating that a low-grade explosive device was involved. This theory, so
far a minority view, holds that an explosion would cause fuel to leak into
the air and then be ignited by the slow-burning detonating material,
creating what amounts to a giant gas bomb; a higher-velocity explosive like
Semtex would cause severe structural damage to the plane, but the intense
blast might be too short to ignite fuel vapors
FBI explosives-unit chief Tom Thurman and his associates will be looking for
what is called "observable bomb damage" in the wreckage. Says Chris Ronay, a
retired FBI agent who preceded Thurman as head of the unit: "They call us
the blacksmiths of the laboratory. We don't use too much sophisticated
instrumentation. We use hammers and trowels and microscopes." Members of the
unit will be studying the plane's metal surfaces for tiny pitting that could
have been caused by an explosion that would have melted tiny pieces of metal
and sent them, and other tiny bits of debris, shooting around like buckshot.
Says a bomb specialist: "It's a high-speed phenomenon, faster than the speed
of a plane crashing."
Much of what the investigators seek remains beneath the ocean, in
waterlogged seats, shreds of clothing, mangled bags and carpet scraps. Every
bomb scatters tiny bits of undetonated explosive, and some of those
particles penetrate porous material and lodge there, protected from the
elements. Says a bomb specialist: "Nylon, porous materials, seat cushions--a
lot of stuff can get in there and stick. You wash down the debris with a
solvent and run it through the machines." Crash clues, in the end, could
come in very small packages. Says an aviation expert: "All the significant
evidence could fit on top of a desk." But finding that evidence could
require raising most of the plane. Through Friday, less than 10% of the
aircraft had been recovered.
--Reported by Elaine Rivera/Long Island and Elaine Shannon and Douglas
Waller/Washington
|
760.580 | | ROWLET::AINSLEY | Less than 150 KTS is TOO slow | Tue Aug 06 1996 14:14 | 11 |
| re: .575
I wonder if this is the same group that tried and failed a year or so
ago. Their vehicle for crossing the frozen Bering Strait broke down
repeatedly and had to be abandonded on the ice, only to sink when the
ice melted. They made a nice documentary of the trip that appeared on
PBS or TDC a few months ago.
Well, congrats to whoever they are, if they really made it!
Bob
|
760.581 | | ROWLET::AINSLEY | Less than 150 KTS is TOO slow | Tue Aug 06 1996 14:15 | 4 |
| re: .576 They didn't make it. The dual tank thing broke down on the
ice and was abandoned.
Bob
|
760.582 | or was that New york to London 8-} | SHOGUN::KOWALEWICZ | Strangers on the plain, Croaker | Tue Aug 06 1996 16:25 | 9 |
| <<-- <<< Note 760.573 by ROWLET::AINSLEY "Less than 150 KTS is TOO slow" >>>
That's easy. Get on route 95 south. Drive across the Piscataqua
bridge through New Hampster,Mass,Rhode Island to Connecticut. Right near
the mouth of a big river, there you are. York to New London,
About a 2-3 hour trip.
nnttm,
kb
|
760.583 | UH-OH... | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Aug 12 1996 11:57 | 12 |
| Please refer back to .460. With all this publicity and all, I think
it'll be hard to force fit the scenario into what everyone wants
this too be.
There is no evidence of a bomb on board.
Boeing is modifying all new 747's coming off the line, re: wing
design. The wing is wet, and I hear they have cracking and arcing
problems with the wing. Stand by, the sheet will be hitting the fan
soon.
MadMike
|
760.584 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Aug 12 1996 12:58 | 14 |
| Again, even if the fuel had ignited, kerosene simply doesn't explode.
It burns.
It probably would have brought the plane down with total loss of life,
but not without some sort of warning or information on the recorders.
There was an explosion. A big one. One which immediately ripped the
plane apart.
The possibility of a bomb in a wheel well or elsewhere aboard the
plane remains. As well as the remote possibility of a missile.
/john
|
760.585 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Aug 12 1996 13:27 | 23 |
| The wing could have exploded. You have compressed fuel, getting
touched off by an ignition source, near a leaking fuel cell...
This isn't making sense though. The cabin was blown off and landed
a mile behind the rest of the wreckage. The rear of the plane kept
on going for a while. A huge fireball. No evidence of explosives
in the cargo bay. 3 out of 4 cargo containers are recovered. None
show signs of explosives.
Supposedly the victimes all have broken necks, so the initial
destruction of the plane was violent. It didn't necessarily explode
when it came apart. It could have started breaking up and then
fireballed once the fuel had a chance to vaporize all around the
plane.
A bomb in the cargo bay would have blow up one of those boxes. If it's
the box they can't find, there would be evidence of the bomb in one
of the containers that was next to the container that's gone. That's
not the case.
I don't think a bomb would have caused the sudden explosion of the
plane. I think several things happened in quick order. Massive
airframe failure, followed a few seconds later by the fireball.
|
760.586 | | 42333::LESLIE | Andy Leslie | DTN 847 6586 | Mon Aug 12 1996 13:36 | 3 |
| re: all the victims havingbroken necks.
From 13000 feet, I doubt they had an intact bone in their bodies.
|
760.587 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Aug 12 1996 15:55 | 14 |
| > kerosene simply doesn't explode. It burns.
As does gasoline in liquid form. But if either one is vaporized or
atomized and mixed with the right quantity of air, then it will explode
very nicely. I believe there is a bomb based on this principle, isn't
there?, in which a quantity of kerosene is first atomized in a large
cloud, and then touched off by explosives, creating a really big boom.
I forget what this is called.
The point is, what if there was an empty fuel tank with nothing but
fuel vapor and air, or what if the fuel got sprayed all over the inside
of the plane (atomized somewhat) and then ignited?
|
760.588 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Mon Aug 12 1996 16:03 | 9 |
| .587
The famed Hydrodymanic Pineapple Bomb that was implicated in the
Oklahoma bombing?
I've heard it called an "airborne powder explosion" in the case of
combustible solids, and seen the aftermath of one such explosion
where dried milk powder exploded in a silo. Messy.
|
760.589 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Mon Aug 12 1996 16:15 | 12 |
| Fuel-Air bomb is what you are thing about. I believe it is set off with
compressed air to disperse the fuel then ignition... Big bang and lotsa
overpressure.
13,000 @ 5 degrees f per 1000 ft = 65 degrees below ambient of say 70
degrees. Thati s 5 degrees above 0 (zero). Gasoline, let alone JP4 or
JET-A has a real hard time vaporising at that temp so that it will
explode. Take a small coffee can and try to light a little gasoline in
it at that temp. If you use a match and it touches the gasoline, it
will go out like the gas was water. And kero is much worse...
Steve
|
760.590 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Mon Aug 12 1996 16:44 | 4 |
760.592 | They'll find the source of the explosion... | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Aug 12 1996 17:10 | 1 |
| Schmedrick?
|
760.593 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Aug 12 1996 17:32 | 74 |
760.594 | Surprised that they found that many | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Mon Aug 12 1996 17:42 | 14 |
| > No further victims' remains were recovered on Sunday, the medical examiner's
> office said. Remains of only 198 of the 230 victims have been found.
"Only"? Given the wide area of dispersal and the presence of currents
over the days and weeks, I hadn't expected them to find that many. As
an early critic of the first week's recovery efforts, I'll say that
I've been a bit more impressed of late.
As to the cause, I keep wondering what those 10-100 people (I've seen
various numbers depending on the source) saw going up towards the
plane before the explosion(s). If there is no bomb residue found,
would that tend to lend more credibility to a missile impact theory?
Chris
|
760.595 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Aug 12 1996 17:44 | 7 |
| What they might have seen going up toward the plane could have been two
different parts of the plane coming down at different speeds.
Or it could have been a missile. I find it interesting that one engine
is not yet recovered.
/john
|
760.596 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Aug 12 1996 18:14 | 19 |
| I also find it interesting that one engine is missing and why I wet
my pant initially about how the plane got shot down. Then I said
"NAAWWWWWWw" How wacko.
The warhead on a missle would leave a residue on whatever was recovered
from this type of wreck. I would assume the chemical makeup would
indicate right away a military sort of weapon was present. I'd
assume the warhead would be like C-4? I don't know.
I couldn't believe it was structural failure either. but, assume
it WAS a bomb... I still think the thing would have blown the plane
apart, once the whole mess hit the ground, then you'd see an explosion.
Planes don't generally explode all by themselves, I'm talking
EXPLODE, not break up and drop from the sky.
I'd like to know more about that "arcing" issue.
Oh well, Monday morning QBin'.
|
760.597 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Ranch send no girl | Mon Aug 12 1996 18:21 | 2 |
| I have never known anyone who has wet their pant. Dogs on the other
hand....
|
760.598 | singular drip? | HBAHBA::HAAS | more madness, less horror | Mon Aug 12 1996 18:32 | 1 |
| Dogs wet their other hand?
|
760.599 | what really happened | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Aug 12 1996 18:38 | 7 |
| That's it. BillC got so royally ripped at hillary that he fixed
up a C4 suflet flombe, put it into the Dobbins wagon and wheeled it
into the cargo hold of the 747. At the last minute, hillarious decided
she didn't want to go to paris afterall, so she came home and found
Billyboy in the sack with George Stefanefloupolousispsycosis.
Ya, that's the ticket.
|
760.600 | SnArF | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Aug 12 1996 18:39 | 1 |
| I'll take this one.
|
760.601 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:23 | 4 |
| >I have never known anyone who has wet their pant.
How about those guys who are long enough that they have to choose which
pant leg to put it in?
|
760.602 | | BUSY::SLAB | This Son of a Gun for Hire | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:26 | 3 |
|
Long enough? I don't understand.
|
760.603 | er, I wet me shoe. | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:32 | 1 |
| Maybe glen could fill ya in...
|
760.604 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:33 | 1 |
| Not surprising...
|
760.605 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:34 | 1 |
| there's no doubt which side michael johnson prefers.
|
760.606 | he doesn't swing both ways? | HBAHBA::HAAS | more madness, less horror | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:35 | 0 |
760.607 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:35 | 7 |
|
what did Oph mean by that?
- Naive Nell
|
760.608 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:44 | 2 |
| Pitcher or Catcher? Frequently overheard at bars saying
"May I push yer stool in".
|
760.609 | | BUSY::SLAB | This Son of a Gun for Hire | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:46 | 7 |
|
RE: .608
After hearing that once, I think I'd go to a different bar.
But I'm not you. 8^)
|
760.610 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | it's about summer! | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:48 | 3 |
| .607
naive, indeed. ;-)
|
760.611 | I'm boring nowadays | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:49 | 5 |
| FYI: The *ONLY* time I'm in a bar, is when I'm accompanied by
'tine and baps.
Otherwise, MadMike is home waxing the, er, watching TV or something.
Ya, that's the ticket.
|
760.612 | | BUSY::SLAB | This is the Central Scrutinizer | Mon Aug 12 1996 19:56 | 7 |
|
>'tine and baps.
Yup, they're practically inseparable. But Dawn DOES know some
people.
|
760.613 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Future Chevy Blazer owner | Mon Aug 12 1996 20:05 | 2 |
|
shawn, I believe he meant mz_debra. do try and keep up.
|
760.614 | 8^o | POWDML::HANGGELI | Will Work For Latte | Mon Aug 12 1996 20:05 | 2 |
|
|
760.615 | Fuel tank burned as many as 24 seconds after initial blast | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Aug 14 1996 11:57 | 116 |
760.616 | | BIGQ::SILVA | quince.ljo.dec.com/www/decplus/ | Wed Aug 14 1996 13:42 | 10 |
|
I find it amazing at how they can go through so many twist and turns
with this investigation. I like how they don't bow to public pressure to give
an answer, but are seeking to find out what really happened. There are many
lawyers and polly-ticions who could learn a lot from this.
Glen
|
760.617 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Wed Aug 14 1996 17:37 | 12 |
| Re .615:
> . . . rule out pilot error . . .
What kind of pilot error makes the plane explode like that?
-- edp
Public key fingerprint: 8e ad 63 61 ba 0c 26 86 32 0a 7d 28 db e7 6f 75
To find PGP, read note 2688.4 in Humane::IBMPC_Shareware.
|
760.618 | | EVMS::MORONEY | YOU! Out of the gene pool! | Wed Aug 14 1996 17:42 | 7 |
| > What kind of pilot error makes the plane explode like that?
Accidently aim the plane at a dynamite factory?
(read it again, the evidence of sudden noise and silence _ruled out_ pilot
error)
|
760.619 | | BUSY::SLAB | You and me against the world | Wed Aug 14 1996 17:46 | 6 |
|
RE: .617
The pilot might have forgotten to turn on the "no bombs are
to be detonated on board the plane" light.
|
760.620 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Ranch send no girl | Wed Aug 14 1996 17:46 | 2 |
| Perhaps the pilot made the mistake of converting himself into a beam of
pure energy.
|
760.621 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Wed Aug 14 1996 17:46 | 15 |
| Re .618:
> (read it again, the evidence of sudden noise and silence _ruled out_
> pilot error)
No duh, Sherlock. The point is that evidence wouldn't rule out pilot
error because it was ALREADY ruled out by the lack of any sort of error
the pilot could make that would cause the plane to explode like that.
-- edp
Public key fingerprint: 8e ad 63 61 ba 0c 26 86 32 0a 7d 28 db e7 6f 75
To find PGP, read note 2688.4 in Humane::IBMPC_Shareware.
|
760.622 | | ALFSS1::CIAROCHI | One Less Dog | Wed Aug 14 1996 18:16 | 7 |
| Perhaps they were worried that the pilot thumbed the auto-destruct
button instead of the seatbelt sign button? Captain Kirk did that on
one of his starships, but Scotty was able to implode the warp drives
and snap them around the sun which sent them back in time, and Uhura
smacked him just before he did it. If they hadn't filmed the whole
thing, it would have never happened, and Uhura would have gotten
courts-marialed.
|
760.623 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Ranch send no girl | Wed Aug 14 1996 18:19 | 1 |
| This was a flight to Paris, not to the planet Sheron.
|
760.624 | | BUSY::SLAB | You're a train ride to no importance | Wed Aug 14 1996 18:20 | 5 |
|
RE: .622
I knew there was a very good reason I never watched that show.
|
760.625 | | NQOS01::s_coghill.dyo.dec.com::S_Coghill | Luke 14:28 | Wed Aug 14 1996 18:53 | 3 |
| Deploying thrust reversers while airborne is a no-no
on most jets. Although some do use it (I think one
of the DC series uses this).
|
760.626 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Wed Aug 14 1996 19:00 | 11 |
| Years ago when I flew a lot I used to worry about terrorists bringing a
bomb on the plane, and I read that there was a 1 in 100,000 chance of
that happening, which wasn't much, but was still finite enough to
concern me.
So I did some more figuring, and realized that if the chance of there
being 1 bomb on a plane is 1:100,000, then the chances of there being 2
bombs on the plane are 1:10,000,000,000. That is much more comforting,
so from then on I always brought a bomb with me when I flew anywhere.
I've noticed that snapping my fingers keeps elephants away, too.
|
760.627 | | BUSY::SLAB | Your mother has an outie!! | Wed Aug 14 1996 19:30 | 6 |
|
I'm almost positive that you didn't make that up, but it's a
riot anyways.
8^)
|
760.628 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Wed Aug 14 1996 19:38 | 1 |
| <-- You're right -- heard it when I was in high school.
|
760.629 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Ranch send no girl | Wed Aug 14 1996 19:48 | 1 |
| Tommy Lasorda invented that joke.
|
760.630 | Grand Old Pachyderm | HBAHBA::HAAS | more madness, less horror | Wed Aug 14 1996 19:56 | 3 |
| > I've noticed that snapping my fingers keeps elephants away, too.
The people in San Diego might be interested in this...
|
760.631 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Thu Aug 15 1996 12:26 | 7 |
| I guess it must not have been a problem with the aircraft itself. Whenever
it's a problem with the aircraft, some highly paid official in the FAA
(highly paid by someone other than the FAA, I'm sure) declares it to be
"pilot error."
For them to rule out pilot error means they must be certain that Boeing
ain't responsible.
|
760.632 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Fri Aug 16 1996 16:34 | 89 |
|
Mangled Fourth Engine Found; More Bodies Recovered
By Associated Press, 08/16/96
SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (AP) - The fourth engine from TWA
Flight 800 was brought ashore with three quarters
of its fan blades missing, damage that could
provide clues about what caused the jet to
explode.
Jagged remnants of the other blades were found
intact.
Navy Lt. Nicholas Balice said Thursday that
recovering the fourth engine had been a top
priority for divers searching for wreckage from
the July 17 crash off the Long Island coast. The
jet's three other engines have already been
recovered.
The National Transportation Safety Broad said
Thursday the jet's center tank fuel pumps were
recovered and sent to the manufacturer's facility
for examination. Also, the flight engineer's panel
will be removed and sent to the NTSB laboratory
for a detailed examination, the agency said.
Another important piece of wreckage recovered was
a piece from above the jet's second doors near the
front of the plane, where investigators believe
the plane split.
A source familiar with the investigation, who
spoke to The Associated Press on condition of
anonymity, said the 8-foot-long piece would have
been near row 17, which has been eyed as a
possible location of the explosion that brought
the plane down, killing all 230 people aboard.
So far, about 50 percent of the plane has been
recovered, and investigators are still trying to
determine whether it was brought down by a bomb,
missile or some kind of mechanical malfunction.
The monthlong sea-bottom search for victims
yielded the 200th and 201st bodies on Thursday,
and two more today. Twenty-seven victims are still
missing.
A television station reported late Thursday that
the FBI was trying to identify a man who boarded
an empty Flight 800 before it left Kennedy
International Airport.
WNBC-TV said the man was confronted by a TWA
employee, and when he could not produce
identification, the employee escorted him off the
jet.
The report said FBI agents were seeking to
re-interview all ground personnel who could have
had access to the plane to learn the man's
identity.
Officials from the FBI could not immediately be
reached for comment.
---
Associated Press writers Pat Milton and Larry
Neumeister contributed to this report.
AP-DS-08-16-96 1116EDT
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or
video material shall not be published, broadcast,
rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed
directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP
Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a
computer except for personal and non-commercial use.The
AP will not be held liable for any delays,
inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the
transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or
for any damages arising from any of the foregoing.
[Majesty Cruises]
------------------------------------------------
|
760.633 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | So far away from me | Fri Aug 16 1996 16:45 | 4 |
| |The National Transportation Safety Broad said
Who is she and where can I meet her for some cocktails?
|
760.634 | | DECWIN::JUDY | That's *Ms. Bitch* to you!! | Fri Aug 16 1996 17:33 | 8 |
|
I was hoping someone would pick up on that.....
I am *so* tired...... all these little things just keep
sending me into fits of hysterics
|
760.635 | | GAVEL::JANDROW | i think, therefore i have a headache | Fri Aug 16 1996 17:39 | 5 |
|
you and me both, jj!!!
|
760.636 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Fri Aug 16 1996 18:08 | 1 |
| Don't blame me, I just copied it... 8-)
|
760.637 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Aug 17 1996 12:15 | 55 |
760.638 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sun Aug 18 1996 13:28 | 197 |
760.639 | Chilling but hardly surprising | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Mon Aug 19 1996 14:19 | 7 |
| > ..."almost everyone you ever met, has something
> that can get your imagination going," said an FBI agent...
Remember the above, next time some well-meaning politician wants
to give law enforcement agencies more powers.
Chris
|
760.640 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Aug 20 1996 03:55 | 33 |
760.641 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Aug 20 1996 03:58 | 64 |
760.642 | Whatever it was, it hasn't happened again yet | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Tue Aug 20 1996 16:42 | 27 |
| > The announcement also contradicts a speculation everywhere from Internet
> chat groups to aviation experts that the plane might have been hit by a
> runaway military missile.
>
> A heat-seeking missile probably would have homed in on an engine, and all of
> the engines were largely intact, suffering impact damage but no sign of
> trouble from within that could have exploded the aircraft.
1. What's the accuracy of a heat-seeking missile, in terms of
hitting the exact source of heat on a moving target? A few
inches? A few feet? How many feet?
2. There are radar-guided missiles as well.
> Furthermore, Navy Rear Adm. Edward Kristensen said he had "no knowledge" of
> any military operations in the area at the time of the crash.
That's strange... from the beginning of this event, I've been reading
that there were military operations going on in the area at the time...
from memory, I believe it was some sort of training involving aircraft
and flares, but I can't be more specific. In fact, this is how there
was one or more military planes at the crash site so quickly, dropping
flares and so on, in the assistance of the early rescue teams. Anyone
else remember this?
Chris
|
760.643 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Tue Aug 20 1996 17:26 | 14 |
| .642
> 1. What's the accuracy of a heat-seeking missile...?
Current models typically fly right up the tailpipe of a jet engine and
explode there.
> 2. There are radar-guided missiles as well.
True. Such SAMs are large and require a significant dirtside support
setup - the most prominent example is the Hawk, which is the size of a
cruise missile; it is fired from a battery of four that is barely small
enough to be towed by a jeep. It leaves a distinct exhaust trail and
hardly likely to be overlooked in e aftermath of an airliner explosion.
|
760.644 | sounds right | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Tue Aug 20 1996 18:25 | 5 |
|
Any statement by an Admiral that he had "no knowledge of ..."
something should be given considerable credibility.
bb
|
760.645 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Tue Aug 20 1996 19:36 | 9 |
|
I became suspicious as soon as I saw that comment (by the Admiral).
Jim
|
760.646 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | So far away from me | Tue Aug 20 1996 19:40 | 1 |
| This would make a great novel. The military cover up angle, I mean.
|
760.647 | | SMURF::MSCANLON | a ferret on the barco-lounger | Tue Aug 20 1996 19:42 | 10 |
| I'm often amazed at how little high-ranking and powerful
people in the military know when something goes wrong.
I can't tell you the warm fuzzies I get when I hear
the people running our military effectively shrug their shoulders
and say, "Hey, I didn't know. No one tells me anything."
It would appear that not having a clue is a desirable
trait in a high ranking military official.
Makes you wonder sometimes......
|
760.648 | | BUSY::SLAB | A Parting Shot in the Dark | Tue Aug 20 1996 20:09 | 5 |
|
Did you see "Independence Day"?
8^)
|
760.649 | | THEMAX::SMITH_S | R.I.P.-30AUG96 | Wed Aug 21 1996 03:14 | 4 |
| re .647
ie. Bill Clinton
|
760.650 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Wed Aug 21 1996 03:14 | 4 |
|
Barbi Benton
|
760.651 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | and your little dog, too! | Wed Aug 21 1996 11:28 | 10 |
| >I'm often amazed at how little high-ranking and powerful
>people in the military know when something goes wrong.
>I can't tell you the warm fuzzies I get when I hear
>the people running our military effectively shrug their shoulders
>and say, "Hey, I didn't know. No one tells me anything."
When you screw up, how quick are you to advertise this fact to your
superiors? Consider a monumental screw up of career ending and ignominy
inducing magnitude. Isn't that even more motivation to rush right out
and claim responsibility?
|
760.652 | | SMURF::MSCANLON | a ferret on the barco-lounger | Wed Aug 21 1996 13:47 | 4 |
| re: .651
This may indeed be true, however, sounding implausibly
stupid doesn't help their case much either.
|
760.653 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Aug 22 1996 03:19 | 51 |
760.654 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Thu Aug 22 1996 13:37 | 5 |
760.655 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Thu Aug 22 1996 13:43 | 1 |
760.656 | The food cart area in the galley at row 17 hasn't been found | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Aug 22 1996 14:29 | 3 |
760.657 | Deadliest Crime in American History | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Aug 23 1996 10:53 | 108 |
760.658 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Aug 23 1996 10:55 | 89 |
760.659 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Aug 23 1996 11:00 | 882 |
760.660 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Aug 23 1996 11:31 | 200 |
760.661 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | So far away from me | Fri Aug 23 1996 11:55 | 3 |
760.662 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Fri Aug 23 1996 14:12 | 5 |
760.663 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | So far away from me | Fri Aug 23 1996 15:41 | 3 |
760.664 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Sat Aug 24 1996 01:42 | 10 |
760.665 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Sat Aug 24 1996 01:43 | 9 |
760.666 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Mon Aug 26 1996 13:14 | 16 |
760.667 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Every knee shall bow | Mon Aug 26 1996 13:20 | 3 |
760.668 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | I'm brave but my chicken's sick | Mon Aug 26 1996 13:56 | 1 |
760.669 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Mon Aug 26 1996 13:57 | 8 |
760.670 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Mon Aug 26 1996 14:00 | 13 |
760.671 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Aug 26 1996 14:09 | 6 |
760.672 | | BULEAN::BANKS | | Mon Aug 26 1996 14:10 | 3 |
760.673 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Aug 26 1996 14:15 | 5 |
760.674 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | New Chevy Blazer owner | Mon Aug 26 1996 17:04 | 2 |
760.675 | 8^) | POWDML::HANGGELI | sweet & juicy on the inside | Mon Aug 26 1996 17:05 | 4 |
760.676 | | RUSURE::GOODWIN | Sacred Cows Make the Best Hamburger | Mon Aug 26 1996 17:12 | 5 |
760.677 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Mon Aug 26 1996 19:05 | 8 |
760.678 | Interesting story in last weeks Telegram | MILKWY::JACQUES | | Wed Aug 28 1996 14:22 | 23 |
760.679 | | TINCUP::ague.cxo.dec.com::ague | http://www.usa.net/~ague | Wed Aug 28 1996 15:06 | 13 |
760.680 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Thu Aug 29 1996 03:38 | 4 |
760.681 | | THEMAX::SMITH_S | R.I.P.-30AUG96 | Thu Aug 29 1996 04:04 | 1 |
760.682 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Your memory still hangin round | Thu Sep 05 1996 14:48 | 9 |
760.683 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Thu Sep 05 1996 17:39 | 5 |
760.684 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Your memory still hangin round | Thu Sep 05 1996 17:47 | 4 |
760.685 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Bos-Mil-Atl Braves W.S. Champs | Thu Sep 05 1996 17:52 | 8 |
760.686 | Attempt to kill 4000 airline pax in one day | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Sep 05 1996 20:51 | 48 |
760.687 | ACLU says it may challenge profiling provision | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Sep 05 1996 20:55 | 82 |
760.688 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Sep 06 1996 05:47 | 10 |
760.689 | Whoops! | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Fri Sep 06 1996 12:57 | 10 |
760.690 | Something about Aegis, I don't remember the details | AMN1::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Fri Sep 06 1996 14:27 | 11 |
760.691 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Sep 06 1996 14:34 | 9 |
760.692 | wonder what they're plotting next... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Fri Sep 06 1996 14:39 | 8 |
760.693 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Sep 06 1996 14:53 | 21 |
760.694 | this could be fun to do... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Welcome to Paradise | Fri Sep 06 1996 15:23 | 6 |
760.695 | The very latest from the rumormill | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Mon Sep 09 1996 16:45 | 62 |
760.696 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Mon Sep 09 1996 16:51 | 9 |
760.697 | P-3 involvement has been suspicious from early on | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:21 | 11 |
760.698 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:32 | 11 |
760.699 | | E::EVANS | | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:33 | 7 |
760.700 | Pathetic crap | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:35 | 6 |
760.701 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:37 | 5 |
760.702 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:38 | 5 |
760.703 | | SX4GTO::OLSON | DBTC Palo Alto | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:41 | 5 |
760.704 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:52 | 5 |
760.705 | | BUSY::SLAB | Don't drink the (toilet) water. | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:53 | 4 |
760.706 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Your memory still hangin round | Mon Sep 09 1996 17:56 | 11 |
760.707 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Mon Sep 09 1996 18:19 | 1 |
760.708 | | WECARE::GRIFFIN | John Griffin zko1-3/b31 381-1159 | Mon Sep 09 1996 18:20 | 3 |
760.709 | | ACISS2::LEECH | | Mon Sep 09 1996 18:25 | 5 |
760.710 | Government still working on all three theories | DECWIN::RALTO | Jail to the Chief | Mon Sep 09 1996 18:28 | 8 |
760.711 | Pathetic Crap | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Mon Sep 09 1996 18:32 | 15 |
760.712 | is this a coincidence? | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Mon Sep 09 1996 18:42 | 11 |
760.713 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Mon Sep 09 1996 18:50 | 9 |
760.714 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Your memory still hangin round | Mon Sep 09 1996 19:41 | 5 |
760.715 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Slovenly Comportmentization | Mon Sep 09 1996 20:39 | 2 |
760.716 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Mon Sep 09 1996 23:05 | 5 |
760.717 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:06 | 6 |
760.718 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:22 | 9 |
760.719 | The nutters are busy.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:23 | 7 |
760.720 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:27 | 19 |
760.721 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:29 | 2 |
760.722 | Military Air Transport Service --> Military Airlift Command | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:29 | 5 |
760.723 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:31 | 8 |
760.724 | | SMURF::PBECK | It takes a Village: you're No. 6 | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:51 | 1 |
760.725 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Ziiiiingiiiingiiiiiiing! | Tue Sep 10 1996 13:53 | 1 |
760.726 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Tue Sep 10 1996 14:34 | 6 |
760.727 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Tue Sep 10 1996 14:37 | 1 |
760.728 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Tue Sep 10 1996 14:38 | 8 |
760.729 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Tue Sep 10 1996 14:43 | 8 |
760.730 | | BUSY::SLAB | FUBAR | Tue Sep 10 1996 14:51 | 5 |
760.731 | Know your sources.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Sep 10 1996 15:49 | 12 |
760.732 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Tue Sep 10 1996 17:06 | 15 |
760.733 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Tue Sep 10 1996 17:25 | 10 |
760.734 | The messenger isn't the message ... | BRITE::FYFE | Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. | Tue Sep 10 1996 20:11 | 5 |
760.735 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Tue Sep 10 1996 20:31 | 9 |
760.736 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Tue Sep 10 1996 20:41 | 9 |
760.737 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Sep 10 1996 20:45 | 1 |
760.738 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | I won't get soaped | Tue Sep 10 1996 20:46 | 2 |
760.739 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Tue Sep 10 1996 21:13 | 6 |
760.740 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | I won't get soaped | Tue Sep 10 1996 21:18 | 2 |
760.741 | | BUSY::SLAB | Grandchildren of the Damned | Tue Sep 10 1996 21:26 | 3 |
760.742 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Wed Sep 11 1996 12:57 | 47 |
760.743 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Sep 11 1996 14:10 | 14 |
760.744 | uh, that's alt.activism.militia | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Wed Sep 11 1996 14:20 | 7 |
760.745 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Sep 11 1996 14:25 | 3 |
760.746 | "Artist, Philosopher" and "Libertarian" | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Wed Sep 11 1996 15:09 | 7 |
760.747 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:07 | 9 |
760.748 | Possible Explanation | ASABET::MCWILLIAMS | | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:13 | 6 |
760.749 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:16 | 1 |
760.750 | | BRITE::FYFE | Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:19 | 1 |
760.751 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:25 | 6 |
760.752 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:29 | 2 |
760.753 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:33 | 4 |
760.754 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:39 | 9 |
760.755 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:41 | 3 |
760.756 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:43 | 8 |
760.757 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Wed Sep 11 1996 16:48 | 12 |
760.758 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Sep 11 1996 17:00 | 16 |
760.759 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Wed Sep 11 1996 17:02 | 1 |
760.760 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Sep 11 1996 17:16 | 6 |
760.761 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Wed Sep 11 1996 17:19 | 3 |
760.762 | | POWDML::HANGGELI | sweet & juicy on the inside | Wed Sep 11 1996 17:20 | 5 |
760.763 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Sep 11 1996 17:25 | 4 |
760.764 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Wed Sep 11 1996 17:43 | 3 |
760.765 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Wed Sep 11 1996 18:05 | 9 |
760.766 | | ALPHAZ::HARNEY | John A Harney | Wed Sep 11 1996 18:06 | 9 |
760.767 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Wed Sep 11 1996 18:31 | 5 |
760.768 | | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Wed Sep 11 1996 18:34 | 3 |
760.769 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Wed Sep 11 1996 18:37 | 5 |
760.770 | | ALPHAZ::HARNEY | John A Harney | Wed Sep 11 1996 22:19 | 14 |
760.771 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Wed Sep 11 1996 22:23 | 9 |
760.772 | not that important | PHXSS1::HEISER | maranatha! | Thu Sep 12 1996 04:41 | 3 |
760.773 | . | SWAM1::MEUSE_DA | | Thu Sep 12 1996 17:17 | 5 |
760.774 | clarification | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Thu Sep 12 1996 17:17 | 14 |
760.775 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Blazer Boy | Thu Sep 12 1996 17:31 | 3 |
760.776 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Your memory still hangin round | Thu Sep 12 1996 17:33 | 7 |
760.777 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Thu Sep 12 1996 17:41 | 7 |
760.778 | | ACISS1::BATTIS | Blazer Boy | Thu Sep 12 1996 17:45 | 2 |
760.779 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Sep 19 1996 02:38 | 68 |
760.780 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Sat Sep 21 1996 03:28 | 15 |
760.781 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Think locally, act locally | Mon Sep 23 1996 12:31 | 8 |
760.782 | The truth died a while ago.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Mon Sep 23 1996 12:40 | 7 |
760.783 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Your memory still hangin round | Mon Sep 23 1996 14:04 | 8 |
760.784 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Think locally, act locally | Mon Sep 23 1996 14:11 | 24 |
760.785 | | BUSY::SLAB | Afterbirth of a Nation | Mon Sep 23 1996 14:50 | 8 |
760.786 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 14:56 | 4 |
760.787 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | a box of stars | Mon Sep 23 1996 14:58 | 1 |
760.788 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Bos-Mil-Atl Braves W.S. Champs | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:04 | 6 |
760.789 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:06 | 7 |
760.790 | hoodathunkit | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Champagne Supernova | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:18 | 4 |
760.791 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | a box of stars | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:22 | 1 |
760.792 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.yvv.com/decplus/ | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:25 | 6 |
760.793 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | a box of stars | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:27 | 1 |
760.794 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.yvv.com/decplus/ | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:28 | 5 |
760.795 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | a box of stars | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:31 | 5 |
760.796 | | SMARTT::JENNISON | It's all about soul | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:32 | 7 |
760.797 | | BUSY::SLAB | Always a Best Man, never a groom | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:33 | 5 |
760.798 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:40 | 8 |
760.799 | | BUSY::SLAB | Always a Best Man, never a groom | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:42 | 6 |
760.800 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 15:54 | 7 |
760.801 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.yvv.com/decplus/ | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:00 | 8 |
760.802 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:23 | 14 |
760.804 | | BUSY::SLAB | Antisocial | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:30 | 5 |
760.805 | | POWDML::HANGGELI | sweet & juicy on the inside | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:30 | 9 |
760.806 | | BUSY::SLAB | Antisocial | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:31 | 5 |
760.807 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:33 | 10 |
760.808 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:34 | 9 |
760.803 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Bos-Mil-Atl Braves W.S. Champs | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:41 | 8 |
760.809 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:45 | 3 |
760.810 | | POWDML::HANGGELI | sweet & juicy on the inside | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:46 | 3 |
760.811 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Your memory still hangin round | Mon Sep 23 1996 16:56 | 11 |
760.812 | 66mm High Explosive Anti Tank Rocket | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 17:23 | 27 |
760.813 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Think locally, act locally | Mon Sep 23 1996 17:25 | 3 |
760.814 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 17:28 | 23 |
760.815 | not much range on these little guys. | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 17:33 | 21 |
760.816 | even this TOW wouldn't have reached flight 800 | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 17:37 | 23 |
760.817 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Think locally, act locally | Mon Sep 23 1996 17:40 | 3 |
760.818 | | FABSIX::J_SADIN | Freedom isn't free. | Mon Sep 23 1996 17:41 | 6 |
760.819 | | BUSY::SLAB | As you wish | Mon Sep 23 1996 17:42 | 3 |
760.820 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Sep 30 1996 13:05 | 19 |
760.821 | other ocean... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Champagne Supernova | Wed Oct 02 1996 12:52 | 6 |
760.822 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Oct 02 1996 13:08 | 3 |
760.823 | bad early reports | HNDYMN::MCCARTHY | A Quinn Martin Production | Wed Oct 02 1996 14:34 | 6 |
760.824 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Wed Oct 02 1996 14:38 | 13 |
760.825 | | SHRCTR::PJOHNSON | aut disce, aut discede | Wed Oct 02 1996 14:54 | 1 |
760.826 | | BUSY::SLAB | Sufferin' since suffrage | Wed Oct 02 1996 15:51 | 3 |
760.827 | | SHRCTR::PJOHNSON | aut disce, aut discede | Wed Oct 02 1996 16:44 | 7 |
760.828 | | SHRCTR::PJOHNSON | aut disce, aut discede | Wed Oct 02 1996 16:46 | 5 |
760.829 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.yvv.com/decplus/ | Wed Oct 02 1996 16:46 | 5 |
760.830 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | a box of stars | Wed Oct 02 1996 16:47 | 1 |
760.831 | | SHRCTR::PJOHNSON | aut disce, aut discede | Wed Oct 02 1996 16:49 | 5 |
760.832 | | CONSLT::MCBRIDE | Idleness, the holiday of fools | Wed Oct 02 1996 16:49 | 3 |
760.833 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | a box of stars | Wed Oct 02 1996 16:50 | 1 |
760.834 | | BUSY::SLAB | Supra = idiot driver magnet | Wed Oct 02 1996 17:13 | 5 |
760.835 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Good-a-niiiiite-a-ding-ding-ding | Wed Oct 02 1996 17:27 | 1 |
760.836 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Oct 10 1996 15:09 | 58 |
760.837 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Thu Oct 10 1996 16:23 | 9 |
760.838 | | WECARE::GRIFFIN | John Griffin zko1-3/b31 381-1159 | Thu Oct 10 1996 16:30 | 8 |
760.839 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Oct 14 1996 21:45 | 3 |
760.840 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Bitin' off more than I can spew | Mon Oct 14 1996 21:48 | 1 |
760.841 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Fri Oct 18 1996 11:12 | 34 |
760.842 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | guess I'll set a course and go | Fri Oct 18 1996 11:16 | 1 |
760.843 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Think locally, act locally | Fri Oct 18 1996 13:54 | 3 |
760.844 | Sigh.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Fri Oct 18 1996 16:20 | 6 |
760.845 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Think locally, act locally | Fri Oct 18 1996 16:37 | 1 |
760.846 | and the FBI... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Champagne Supernova | Fri Oct 18 1996 17:31 | 4 |
760.847 | | SMARTT::JENNISON | It's all about soul | Fri Oct 18 1996 19:58 | 5 |
760.848 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Fri Oct 18 1996 20:00 | 5 |
760.849 | | SALEM::DODA | Frustrated Incorporated | Fri Oct 18 1996 20:02 | 1 |
760.850 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Fri Oct 18 1996 20:03 | 3 |
760.851 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | Look in ya heaaaaaaaaaaaart! | Fri Oct 18 1996 20:04 | 1 |
760.852 | Hello from Seattle.... about your fleet....er,ah.. | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Oct 18 1996 20:42 | 2 |
760.853 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Fri Oct 18 1996 20:46 | 1 |
760.854 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | guess I'll set a course and go | Mon Oct 21 1996 11:25 | 4 |
760.855 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Think locally, act locally | Mon Oct 21 1996 12:31 | 5 |
760.856 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Oct 22 1996 04:21 | 70 |
760.857 | | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Tue Oct 22 1996 13:12 | 15 |
760.858 | | ACISS2::LEECH | Terminal Philosophy | Tue Oct 22 1996 13:54 | 4 |
760.859 | Many reasons | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Tue Oct 22 1996 14:52 | 8 |
760.860 | What, no missile? | MILKWY::JACQUES | | Wed Oct 23 1996 15:27 | 4 |
760.861 | model rocket geek is now a possibility. :^\ | VMSNET::M_MACIOLEK | Four54 Camaro/Only way to fly | Wed Oct 23 1996 15:53 | 15 |
760.862 | | SHRCTR::PJOHNSON | aut disce, aut discede | Wed Oct 23 1996 18:31 | 4 |
760.863 | FBI investigating Mysterious bag | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Oct 26 1996 20:10 | 75 |
760.864 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Oct 26 1996 20:23 | 7 |
760.865 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Fri Nov 08 1996 04:35 | 72 |
760.866 | | POMPY::LESLIE | Andy. DEC: Where the Net Works | Fri Nov 08 1996 07:12 | 1 |
760.867 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Fri Nov 08 1996 10:00 | 18 |
760.868 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Fri Nov 08 1996 10:28 | 8 |
760.869 | Yeah, right | TLE::RALTO | Bridge to the 21st Indictment | Fri Nov 08 1996 13:34 | 4 |
760.870 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott itj | Fri Nov 08 1996 13:52 | 4 |
760.871 | | DECWET::LOWE | Bruce Lowe, DECwest Eng., DTN 548-8910 | Fri Nov 08 1996 15:37 | 4 |
760.872 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Fri Nov 08 1996 15:39 | 8 |
760.873 | Gnahh! | TLE::RALTO | Bridge to the 21st Indictment | Fri Nov 08 1996 15:50 | 5 |
760.874 | | BULEAN::BANKS | America is Ferenginor | Fri Nov 08 1996 15:50 | 5 |
760.875 | Surrender this, uh, meaningless document at once! | TLE::RALTO | Bridge to the 21st Indictment | Fri Nov 08 1996 15:59 | 6 |
760.876 | Scallop fishing in the USA | MILKWY::JACQUES | | Fri Nov 08 1996 16:16 | 11 |
760.877 | | BULEAN::BANKS | America is Ferenginor | Fri Nov 08 1996 16:18 | 5 |
760.878 | Put up or shut up! | MILKWY::JACQUES | | Fri Nov 08 1996 18:46 | 12 |
760.879 | | BSS::PROCTOR_R | Flushed... not blanched! | Fri Nov 08 1996 18:48 | 4 |
760.880 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Nov 09 1996 14:01 | 78 |
760.881 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Nov 09 1996 14:43 | 125 |
760.882 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Nov 09 1996 14:52 | 80 |
760.883 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Nov 09 1996 15:08 | 18 |
760.884 | Repeat a rumour often enough... | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Nov 09 1996 15:14 | 9 |
760.885 | That's an ugly, smelly, disgusting cigar in Pierre's hand... | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sat Nov 09 1996 15:24 | 13 |
760.886 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Sun Nov 10 1996 03:01 | 60 |
760.887 | Can't shut it down? Discredit it! | TLE::RALTO | Bridge to the 21st Indictment | Mon Nov 11 1996 14:09 | 18 |
760.888 | | BUSY::SLAB | Subtract A, substitute O, invert S | Mon Nov 11 1996 14:41 | 6 |
760.889 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Patented Problem Generator | Mon Nov 11 1996 14:43 | 1 |
760.890 | | BSS::PROCTOR_R | Flushed... not blanched! | Mon Nov 11 1996 14:44 | 5 |
760.891 | Things are often not what they seem | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Nov 11 1996 16:08 | 8 |
760.892 | give discredit where discredit is due... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Champagne Supernova | Mon Nov 11 1996 16:17 | 11 |
760.893 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Mon Nov 11 1996 16:23 | 15 |
760.894 | Perhaps I'm misinterpreting the reports | TLE::RALTO | Bridge to the 21st Indictment | Mon Nov 11 1996 17:01 | 29 |
760.895 | The don't tell us squat! | MILKWY::JACQUES | | Mon Nov 11 1996 18:55 | 34 |
760.896 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:19 | 6 |
760.897 | | BUSY::SLAB | Subtract A, substitute O, invert S | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:19 | 3 |
760.898 | | BSS::PROCTOR_R | Flushed... not blanched! | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:23 | 6 |
760.899 | | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Patented Problem Generator | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:23 | 1 |
760.900 | | BSS::PROCTOR_R | Flushed... not blanched! | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:27 | 2 |
760.901 | | BUSY::SLAB | Subtract A, substitute O, invert S | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:39 | 6 |
760.902 | Give up the booty! | MILKWY::JACQUES | | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:41 | 14 |
760.903 | Unbelievable.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:55 | 5 |
760.904 | This shameful disinformation began as early as 29-Aug-1996 | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Mon Nov 11 1996 19:58 | 140 |
760.905 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Braves, 1914 1957 1995 WS Champs | Mon Nov 11 1996 20:16 | 18 |
760.906 | Media calling Internet unreliable is P&K | TLE::RALTO | | Mon Nov 11 1996 20:24 | 21 |
760.907 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Tue Nov 12 1996 09:34 | 16 |
760.908 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Tue Nov 12 1996 11:38 | 13 |
760.909 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 11:40 | 13 |
760.910 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Tue Nov 12 1996 11:43 | 12 |
760.911 | Another popular internut thread.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 11:44 | 6 |
760.912 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 11:49 | 9 |
760.913 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Braves, 1914 1957 1995 WS Champs | Tue Nov 12 1996 12:02 | 6 |
760.914 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Tue Nov 12 1996 12:20 | 10 |
760.915 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Tue Nov 12 1996 12:24 | 6 |
760.916 | See if you can identify the UFO | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 12:42 | 12 |
760.917 | How many of you "see" a missile in Salinger's photo? | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 13:00 | 4 |
760.918 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 13:03 | 19 |
760.919 | | CONSLT::MCBRIDE | Idleness, the holiday of fools | Tue Nov 12 1996 13:09 | 3 |
760.920 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Braves, 1914 1957 1995 WS Champs | Tue Nov 12 1996 13:13 | 8 |
760.921 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 13:50 | 17 |
760.922 | UL | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 13:57 | 14 |
760.923 | Has anyone checked the traffic reports? | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 14:01 | 9 |
760.924 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Braves, 1914 1957 1995 WS Champs | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:07 | 10 |
760.925 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:37 | 39 |
760.926 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:42 | 7 |
760.927 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:44 | 8 |
760.928 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:47 | 15 |
760.929 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:49 | 2 |
760.930 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Braves, 1914 1957 1995 WS Champs | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:52 | 13 |
760.931 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:55 | 16 |
760.932 | | EVMS::MORONEY | Sorry, my dog ate my homepage. | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:55 | 3 |
760.933 | | BSS::PROCTOR_R | Flushed... not blanched! | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:57 | 4 |
760.934 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 16:59 | 14 |
760.935 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Tue Nov 12 1996 17:05 | 6 |
760.936 | | BUSY::SLAB | Stop the boat! | Tue Nov 12 1996 17:05 | 7 |
760.937 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 17:12 | 12 |
760.938 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Tue Nov 12 1996 17:23 | 10 |
760.939 | my vote: globe lamppost and gummint coverup | MPGS::WOOLNER | Your dinner is in the supermarket | Tue Nov 12 1996 17:45 | 17 |
760.940 | deck lamp/light | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott itj | Tue Nov 12 1996 17:49 | 2 |
760.941 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Tue Nov 12 1996 17:58 | 20 |
760.942 | | PATE::CLAPP | | Tue Nov 12 1996 18:01 | 9 |
760.943 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Tue Nov 12 1996 18:22 | 12 |
760.944 | | BIGHOG::PERCIVAL | I'm the NRA,USPSA/IPSC,NROI-RO | Tue Nov 12 1996 18:23 | 8 |
760.945 | | BUSY::SLAB | Stop the boat! | Tue Nov 12 1996 18:25 | 3 |
760.946 | To /john, who is always right, I say "I'm sorry." | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 19:50 | 30 |
760.947 | Since late August.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 19:55 | 12 |
760.948 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Tue Nov 12 1996 20:08 | 7 |
760.949 | Quoting /john (wiar) "Because it was taken facing north..." | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 20:19 | 9 |
760.950 | | BUSY::SLAB | Stop the boat! | Tue Nov 12 1996 20:22 | 3 |
760.951 | Harumph.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Nov 12 1996 20:26 | 4 |
760.952 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Nov 13 1996 05:19 | 9 |
760.953 | | USPS::FPRUSS | Frank Pruss, 202-232-7347 | Wed Nov 13 1996 05:24 | 4 |
760.954 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Braves, 1914 1957 1995 WS Champs | Wed Nov 13 1996 12:01 | 15 |
760.955 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott itj | Wed Nov 13 1996 12:12 | 2 |
760.956 | look at it the other way... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | Champagne Supernova | Wed Nov 13 1996 12:40 | 6 |
760.957 | Septembah... NoVEMMMbah!... | TLE::RALTO | Bridge to the 21st Indictment | Wed Nov 13 1996 13:18 | 6 |
760.958 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Wed Nov 13 1996 13:19 | 4 |
760.959 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.yvv.com/decplus/ | Wed Nov 13 1996 13:22 | 3 |
760.960 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Nov 13 1996 15:52 | 4 |
760.961 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Wed Nov 13 1996 15:52 | 4 |
760.962 | | BUSY::SLAB | Stop the boat! | Wed Nov 13 1996 15:54 | 3 |
760.963 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Wed Nov 13 1996 15:54 | 3 |
760.964 | | BUSY::SLAB | Stop the boat! | Wed Nov 13 1996 15:54 | 3 |
760.965 | | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Wed Nov 13 1996 16:11 | 5 |
760.966 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.yvv.com/decplus/ | Wed Nov 13 1996 16:22 | 7 |
760.967 | | DECWIN::JUDY | That's *Ms. Bitch* to you!! | Wed Nov 13 1996 17:01 | 5 |
760.968 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | | Wed Nov 13 1996 17:03 | 3 |
760.969 | | POWDML::HANGGELI | sweet & juicy on the inside | Wed Nov 13 1996 17:03 | 3 |
760.970 | | DECWIN::JUDY | That's *Ms. Bitch* to you!! | Wed Nov 13 1996 17:04 | 5 |
760.971 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.yvv.com/decplus/ | Wed Nov 13 1996 18:30 | 8 |
760.972 | There. We're even. | SBUOA::GUILLERMO | But the world still goes round and round | Wed Nov 13 1996 19:04 | 1 |
760.973 | odd co-inky-dinky (I wonder which came 1st) | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Tue Mar 04 1997 15:04 | 26 |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday March 4 8:30 AM EST
ABC Prepares 'Mayday' Airplane Thriller
By Joe Flint
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - An airplane thriller novel originally published in
1979 is being re-published and turned into a television movie.
"Mayday," by bestselling author Nelson DeMille (The Gold Coast, The
General's Daughter, By the Rivers of Babylon) is about a commercial
airliner hit by an errant missile and the crew's efforts to land the plane
safely.
The novel has been updated and is being reissued by Time Warner's Warner
Books and has been purchased as a Book-of-the- Month Club selection for its
January 1998 publication date. ABC will screen a TV movie based on the book
next season.
Interestingly, DeMille published the book -- through Berkeley Jove -- under
the pseudonym of Thomas Block. Block, an aviator, is DeMille's researcher
and has since become an author in his own right. The book sold over 500,000
copies first time around.
|
760.974 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott Itj | Mon Mar 10 1997 17:04 | 86 |
| Report says missile may have shot down jetliner
Associated Press, 03/10/97; 10:27
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) - Newly disclosed evidence "points to a missile"
as the cause of the explosion that killed all 230 people aboard TWA
Flight 800 off New York's Long Island, The Press-Enterprise reported
today.
The evidence includes reddish residue found on several seat backs that
laboratory analysis showed to be ``consistent with solid missile fuel''
ingredients, the newspaper said.
It said information from FBI and National Transportation Safety Board
documents and investigative sources indicates the plane may have been a
victim of a terrorist missile or ``friendly fire'' - a Navy weapon gone
astray.
The FBI repeated that it had no proof of a missile, although it has not
ruled one out as a possible cause of the July 17 crash. The Navy again
denied any role in the disaster.
Investigators say a missile remains one of three theories, along with a
bomb or mechanical failure.
The paper also said tapes to be released later this week by the Federal
Aviation Administration suggest a projectile moving at 1,500 mph was on
a collision course with the plane just before it exploded over the
ocean during a flight to Paris.
It didn't give details of the type of tapes it said would be released.
The report said ``compelling testimony'' indicated a missile hit the
plane on the right side, forward of the wing, passing through the
fuselage without exploding.
``The source of the missile remains unclear, with speculation centering
on either a terrorist attack or friendly fire, possibly a secret Navy
weapons test gone wrong,'' the paper said.
Investigators say an explosion in the plane's nearly empty center fuel
tank broke the huge aircraft in half.
The cause of that explosion has not been officially declared, but James
Sanders, a private investigator who assisted the newspaper's inquiry,
said he believes heat from a missile was responsible.
The newspaper said Sanders, a retired police officer and writer with
investigative experience who is married to a TWA employee, obtained
samples of the seat fabric from crash investigation sources and had it
privately analyzed, coming up with the missile fuel residue finding.
The components, the paper said, were magnesium, silicon, aluminum,
calcium, zinc and other metals, ``consistent with a missile's internal
components and wiring.''
In Washington, Navy officials reiterated their denials that any missile
test was conducted off Long Island at the time of the crash.
``It just isn't true. There was no missile firing at that time. It's
been looked at and looked at, and nothing has changed,'' one
unidentified Navy official told the newspaper.
He referred all other questions to the FBI, which is investigating the
crash with the NTSB.
The paper quoted James Kallstrom, assistant director of the FBI and its
chief investigator of the explosion, as confirming that the reddish
residue was found on seats - but denying that it had anything to do
with missiles.
``There's a logical explanation but I'm not going to get into it,''
Kallstrom said in an interview with the paper on Friday.
Kallstrom told The Associated Press early today that he could not
comment because he had not yet seen the Press-Enterprise story.
In November, he angrily denounced the friendly fire theory as ``pure,
unadulterated nonsense,'' and NTSB chairman Jim Hall called it
``unfounded and irresponsible.''
Navy officers and former officers argue that because a ship's crew and
hundreds of other people in the communications network would know
within minutes of such a missile firing, there is no way it could be
concealed from Congress, the public and the news media, especially for
months afterward.
|
760.975 | | BUSY::SLAB | A thousand pints of lite | Mon Mar 10 1997 17:10 | 5 |
|
There's a logical explanation but he's not going to get into it?"
Why not? If it's that logical, shouldn't it be easy to explain?
|
760.976 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Mon Mar 10 1997 17:24 | 16 |
| Re .975:
> Why not? If it's that logical, shouldn't it be easy to explain?
We should have a discussion sometime about Hausdorff topological spaces
and other extremely logical facets of mathematics. Did you know the
delta-epsilon definition of continuity you learned in calculus class
can be stated more simply and more generally with the topological
statement that pre-images of open sets are open?
-- edp
Public key fingerprint: 8e ad 63 61 ba 0c 26 86 32 0a 7d 28 db e7 6f 75
To find PGP, read note 2688.4 in Humane::IBMPC_Shareware.
|
760.977 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Mon Mar 10 1997 17:32 | 4 |
|
Hey, that's a great idea!
|
760.978 | | POWDML::DOUGAN | | Mon Mar 10 1997 17:33 | 2 |
| " magnesium, silicon, aluminum, calcium, zinc and other metals" -
sounds like someone's notebook blew up.
|
760.979 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Mon Mar 10 1997 17:33 | 1 |
| He's a wry man.
|
760.980 | | BUSY::SLAB | Act like you own the company | Mon Mar 10 1997 17:57 | 6 |
|
RE: .976
Was that an answer to my question, or another question? Either
way, I didn't get much out of it.
|
760.981 | | RUSURE::EDP | Always mount a scratch monkey. | Mon Mar 10 1997 17:59 | 14 |
| Re .980:
> Was that an answer to my question, or another question? Either
> way, I didn't get much out of it.
It demonstrates that eminently logical things are not necessarily easy
to explain.
-- edp
Public key fingerprint: 8e ad 63 61 ba 0c 26 86 32 0a 7d 28 db e7 6f 75
To find PGP, read note 2688.4 in Humane::IBMPC_Shareware.
|
760.982 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Mon Mar 10 1997 18:05 | 7 |
| > <<< Note 760.981 by RUSURE::EDP "Always mount a scratch monkey." >>>
> It demonstrates...
in more ways than one.
|
760.983 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | ready to begin again | Mon Mar 10 1997 18:12 | 1 |
| quite the smilla-esque statement.
|
760.984 | i wanna be a 'spokesperson'.... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | And nothing else matters | Mon Mar 10 1997 18:13 | 4 |
|
that explanation is a bomb
bb
|
760.985 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Mon Mar 10 1997 18:14 | 4 |
|
.983 are you reading something inuit?
|
760.986 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | ready to begin again | Mon Mar 10 1997 20:15 | 3 |
| .985
aw geez, yah. [pithy comeback void]
|
760.987 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott Itj | Tue Mar 11 1997 10:27 | 71 |
| US says TWA 800 article in error: Investigators rebut theory on missile
By Richard Pyle Associated Press, 03/11/97
NEW YORK - Federal investigators yesterday disputed the latest report
that TWA Flight 800 may have been downed by a missile, saying "such a
conclusion is not supported by the evidence gathered to date."
The joint statement by the FBI and the National Transportation Safety
Board followed reports by the Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif.,
saying newly disclosed evidence ``points to a missile'' in the July 17
crash off Long Island, which killed all 230 people on the jumbo jet.
The newspaper cited reddish stains on seat fabric which it said
contained chemicals consistent with solid-fuel propellant. It also said
sources ``inside the investigation'' provided documents from the FBI
and NTSB indicating that a dummy-warhead missile may have smashed
through the plane.
In the joint statement late in the day, the FBI and NTSB said that
``while it is the policy of the investigative team not to comment on
every individual item of evidence, it can be stated that the
information in the articles contains numerous factual and interpretive
errors.
``The articles' resulting conclusions are not supported by the facts,''
the statement said.
The statement carried no names.
Investigators have refused to rule out three theories - a bomb, a
missile, or a mechanical failure - on what brought down the Paris-bound
jet.
The newspaper said yesterday that theories center on either a terrorist
missile or friendly fire - ``possibly a secret Navy weapons test gone
wrong.''
The FBI and NTSB have dismissed earlier versions of the friendly-fire
theory, but such speculation has thrived on the Internet.
Since ending underwater sweeps of the crash site, investigators have
turned to reconstructing as much of the wreckage as possible at a
hangar in Long Island.
The Press-Enterprise said its inquiry suggested a missile hit the plane
on the right side in front of the wing and ripped through the cabin,
leading to a massive explosion or fire in the center fuel tank.
James Kallstrom, assistant FBI director and chief of the investigation,
told the newspaper the stains on seat fabric were not from rocket fuel.
The newspaper's findings relied heavily on information supplied by
James Sanders, a retired California police officer and auto-accident
investigator who has probed the crash in a free-lance capacity.
Sanders, whose wife works for TWA, said he became engrossed in the
crash after sources in the investigation gave him documents and pieces
of seat fabric. Sanders said he had the cloth analyzed by an
independent California laboratory.
In addition to the fabric and documents, the newspaper said unexplained
blips on FAA radar tapes may be the track of a missile racing toward
the jetliner.
It said Richard Russell, a retired United Air Lines pilot who has
espoused the Navy missile theory since last August, owned the tape and
would make it public later this week. In a phone interview at his home
in Daytona, Fla., Russell said he did not plan to release the tapes,
but he said the French magazine Paris-Match would publish three frames
this week showing a blip closing at high speed on TWA 800.
|
760.988 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott Itj | Tue Mar 11 1997 14:06 | 89 |
| It's back: TWA 800 missile theory aired anew
By PAT MILTON Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - The FBI has seized a Federal Aviation Administration
radar tape that purportedly showed an object speeding toward TWA Flight
800 seconds before the plane exploded, The Associated Press learned
today.
The U.S. District Court in Brooklyn issued a subpoena for the tape's
seizure Monday night from the Daytona Beach, Fla., home of retired
United Airlines pilot Richard Russell as part of the criminal
investigation into the July 17 crash, a source close to the
investigation said on condition of anonymity.
The tape is to be reviewed by a federal grand jury, possibly as soon as
Wednesday, the source said, confirming a report published today in The
Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif.
``I'm offended by it,'' Russell said of the seizure in a phone
interview today. ``They took my property away, but that's the way they
operate. I knew that they would be doing this. It's a cover-up.''
Russell, who refused to say how he obtained the tape, has long
supported the theory that a Navy missile brought down the plane off the
Long Island coast. He told the AP that he wrote the memo that was
widely circulated on the Internet as proof of the missile theory.
However, no evidence was produced to back up the claims.
Russell said Monday that he had a copy of the FAA radar tape that he
claimed showed a projectile racing toward the jetliner. The newspaper
also reported Monday that unexplained blips on the tape may be the
track of a missile hurtling toward the plane, and that Russell would
make the tape public this week.
Russell, however, said that he did not plan to release the tape, but
that the French magazine Paris-Match would publish three frames this
week showing a blip closing at high speed on Flight 800. All 230 aboard
were killed.
The FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board issued a joint
statement disputing the newspaper's claim regarding the cause of the
crash. ``Such a conclusion is not supported by the evidence gathered to
date,'' the statement said.
It said the investigative team believed the newspaper's account
contained ``numerous factual and interpretive errors.''
Sources ``inside the investigation'' provided the newspaper with FBI
and NTSB documents indicating a dummy-warhead missile may have smashed
through the plane, the paper said.
The AP's source said on Monday that the investigative team had
exhaustively reviewed all of the radar tapes from the night of the
explosion and ``there was absolutely nothing on any tape showing a
missile hitting this airplane.''
The source said it was possible the newspaper was basing its report on
a ``bogus tape.''
The Press-Enterprise said chemical residue found in reddish stains on
the plane's seats ``points to a missile'' as the cause of the
explosion.
The newspaper said the stains contained chemicals consistent with
solid-fuel propellant.
But the AP's source said the chemicals found are not consistent with
what would be in a rocket propellant.
``Other chemicals that should be there are missing,'' the source said.
``However, the chemicals found are consistent with an adhesive material
that was used to fasten the plastic backs to the seats in the
airplane.''
The newspaper's findings relied heavily on information supplied by
James Sanders, a retired California policeman and auto-accident
investigator who has probed the crash on his own.
FBI Assistant Director James Kallstrom, who heads the TWA
investigation, put the newspaper's report in the same category as
information provided last year by Pierre Salinger, a former Kennedy
administration press secretary who had seized upon the Russell memo.
Kallstrom said the report was ``heresay, speculation, erroneous
deductions and pure guessing.''
He said it is still premature to rule out any of three theories _ a
bomb, a missile or mechanical failure.
|
760.989 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott Itj | Tue Mar 11 1997 14:08 | 1 |
| heresay?!!
|
760.990 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Tue Mar 11 1997 14:10 | 1 |
| Wheresay? Oh, theresay.
|
760.991 | Gosh, Richard *again*? | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Tue Mar 11 1997 14:23 | 12 |
| | retired United Airlines pilot Richard Russell
| James Sanders, a retired California policeman and auto-accident
| investigator who has probed the crash on his own.
"Sources" like these are just so, so, *credible*.
(I'll leave it to someone else to figure out when the last time Richard
Russell's name was prominent in the news, but I'll give you a free
clue. Pierre Salinger was taken in by his fiction.)
-mr. bill
|
760.992 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott Itj | Wed Mar 12 1997 10:26 | 61 |
| Source: Military pilot was convinced he saw a missile
By Pat Milton, Associated Press, 03/12/97; 05:49
NEW YORK (AP) - An Air National Guardsman who witnessed the explosion
of TWA Flight 800 repeatedly told authorities he thought a missile had
struck the plane, a source said.
After searching for survivors the night of the crash, Capt. Chris Baur,
a helicopter pilot, returned to his base and ``told officials
immediately he thought he saw a missile,'' said the source, who spoke
to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Baur's eyewitness report comes to light as critics of the investigation
are claiming to have evidence suggesting that Flight 800 was shot down
by an errant Navy missile. A Pentagon spokesman said investigators had
thoroughly probed the issue, even inventorying the Navy's missile
arsenal.
``All missiles owned by the Navy, by any ships, submarines, planes in
the area, have been inventoried,'' said Kenneth Bacon, assistant
secretary of defense for public affairs. ``There is absolutely no
evidence to support this theory.''
Many eyewitnesses say they saw something that could have been a missile
in the sky the night of the crash. Baur's clear view from the
helicopter and his military training would make his account one of the
most credible.
Baur ``saw a track of light and saw a hard explosion, then another
explosion,'' the source said. The pilot then shared his observations
with the FBI, the National Transportation Safety Board and
investigators from the Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Reached at his home Tuesday, Baur would not comment.
An NTSB investigator who interviewed Baur said that what the pilot saw
could be explained by mechanical malfunction that might have created
``a tongue of flame coming from the aircraft,'' according to the
source.
The FBI seized a videotape early Tuesday from the Florida home of
retired United Airlines pilot Richard Russell, who has long supported
the theory that a Navy missile brought down the plane. He contends the
tape is a copy of Federal Aviation Administration radar and that it
shows an object speeding toward the jetliner.
The tape is to be reviewed by a federal grand jury, according to a
second source, confirming a report published Tuesday in The
Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif. A grand jury has been considering
possible criminal elements of the crash, but the exact nature of that
probe isn't known.
Russell wrote a memo that was widely circulated on the Internet as
proof of the missile theory. He has said he had proof of his claim, but
hasn't produced it.
The NTSB and FBI continue to say they cannot yet determine whether the
jumbo jet was brought down by a bomb, a missile or a mechanical
malfunction. The July 17, 1996 crash into the Atlantic Ocean off New
York's Long Island killed all 230 people aboard.
|
760.993 | | BUSY::SLAB | Be gone - you have no powers here | Wed Mar 12 1997 10:44 | 4 |
|
In the time it takes to inventory all the missiles, couldn't they
have one more made and "put it back"?
|
760.994 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 11:12 | 5 |
| For the purposes of this note:
missle, nnttm.
;-)
|
760.995 | Richard Russell - nut | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Wed Mar 12 1997 12:12 | 6 |
| | Russell wrote a memo that was widely circulated on the Internet as
| proof of the missile theory. He has said he had proof of his claim, but
| hasn't produced it.
So many Fridays, so much time to make up a fact.
-mr. bill
|
760.996 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:21 | 12 |
| .995
> He has said he had proof of his claim, but
> hasn't produced it.
Cubem autem in duos cubos, aut quadrato-quadratum in duos quadrato-
quadratos, et generaliter nullam in infinitum ultra quadratum
potestatem in duas ejusdem nominis fas est dividere : cujus rei
demonstrationem mirabilem sane detexi. Hanc marginis exiguitas non
caparet.
-Pierre de Fermat (1601-1665)
|
760.997 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | ready to begin again | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:22 | 1 |
| ditto.
|
760.998 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:27 | 1 |
| Us PeeCee owners get to use english.
|
760.999 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:29 | 6 |
|
Dawn, i suppose you actually want people to be able to
read what you write. how strange.
|
760.1000 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:30 | 1 |
| It'd be nice, but I don't expect it to happen.
|
760.1001 | Rather more credible than Russell, IMHO | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:30 | 8 |
| .998
For the language-handicapped among us:
However, a cube into two cubes, or a fourth power into two fourth
powers, and generally any higher power into two of the same degree can
not possibly be separated : I have surely found a remarkable proof of
this thing, but the margin is too small to contain it.
|
760.1002 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:30 | 2 |
| It's because of us PC owners that Apple's margins are narrow too.
|
760.1003 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:34 | 6 |
|
.1001 er, seems to me that should actually be "Latin-handicapped".
which would probably be most of your target audience.
|
760.1004 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:37 | 1 |
| Are you suggesting that Latin is not a language?
|
760.1005 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:37 | 4 |
| Obivously, his chauvanism goes beyond his evangelism of pointless
big-endian computers in little-endian drag.
Sure, you got latin. But, have you memorized the OED (which is not crap)?
|
760.1006 | Margin notes written in a *TRANSLATION* of Arithmetica! | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:39 | 5 |
| | For the language-handicapped among us:
That would include Fermat I suppose.
-mr. bill
|
760.1007 | | PENUTS::DDESMAISONS | person B | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:39 | 8 |
|
> <<< Note 760.1004 by SMURF::BINDER "Errabit quicquid errare potest." >>>
> Are you suggesting that Latin is not a language?
duh. of course not.
|
760.1008 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | ready to begin again | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:40 | 1 |
| it's one language.
|
760.1009 | goes with Mac's ? | GAAS::BRAUCHER | And nothing else matters | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:42 | 4 |
|
a dead one
bb
|
760.1010 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:42 | 1 |
| Between here and TTHT, I'm going from de Fermat to de fur mat.
|
760.1011 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:53 | 5 |
| .1005
Why should I memorize the OED? I can simply open it and find what I
want. I don't memorize thousands of Latin words, either; I do memorize
grammatical rules and, more importantly, colloquial conventions.
|
760.1012 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Mar 12 1997 13:55 | 5 |
| .1010
> de fur mat
Samarkand kind of place?
|
760.1013 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:00 | 18 |
| .1009
Dead? Hardly. Ask any doctor or lawyer. And remember that more than
half of the words in English, which in the face of Ebonics is moribund,
come from Latin. Otiose, for instance, a word with which Colin is
apparently unwontedly familiar.
Words in the above paragraph with obvious Latin derivation:
doctor
remember
Latin
face
moribund
otiose
instance
apparently
familiar
|
760.1014 | | BUSY::SLAB | Buzzword Bingo | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:03 | 10 |
|
Very convincing, Binder. Constructing your own paragraph and then
pointing out the plethora of Latin-derived words contained in same.
No bias there.
8^)
|
760.1015 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:03 | 4 |
| Your comment about language impaired would seem to imply that even a
person intimately familiar with all the contents of the OED would be
language impaired if he didn't also speak latin, which is a
premise that I reject.
|
760.1016 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:05 | 4 |
| .1014:
Yabbut, I'd like to see you construct a paragraph in latin and point
out all the english-derived words. That would be a trick!
|
760.1017 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:06 | 7 |
| .1014
convincing
constructing
paragraph (loan-word, orig. from Greek, we get it via Middle English)
plethora (loan-word, orig. from Greek)
contained
|
760.1018 | | BUSY::SLAB | Buzzword Bingo | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:08 | 11 |
|
Wise guy.
My paragraph had a higher % of derivatives [5/20, 25%] than yours
did [9/41, 22%].
8^)
I'm done debating this subject ... someone else construct a sent-
ence that DOESN'T prove his point. 8^)
|
760.1019 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:11 | 7 |
760.1020 | | SMURF::WALTERS | Oaty-o's Spokesperson | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:12 | 4 |
| .1018
Mae'n rhaid I fi fynd adref 'nawr. Mae pen tost gyda fi.
|
760.1021 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:13 | 7 |
| Actually, I've come to consider anyone who speaks french to be language
impaired.
Ni hui bu hui shou zhonggou hua? (excuse spelling errors, but the
current medium doesn't allow proper spelling, anyway. And, for that
matter, excuse the rather simple syntax, 'cause I'm still language
impaired.)
|
760.1022 | | SMURF::MSCANLON | a ferret on the barco-lounger | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:16 | 10 |
| re: .1021
Oh, well thank you kindly, or should I say "Merci beaucoup".
You probably let your cat run around loose in the car, too.
I bet you even own a Saturn.
:-) :-)
|
760.1023 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:17 | 3 |
| {hangs head in shame}
Oui.
|
760.1024 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:25 | 6 |
|
TWA flight 800 to Paris explodes over Long Island, People, TWA flight 800 to
Paris explodes over Long Island!
|
760.1025 | | BULEAN::BANKS | Saturn Sap | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:25 | 1 |
| I knew that.
|
760.1026 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Wed Mar 12 1997 14:39 | 1 |
| not another one!!??
|
760.1027 | | BUSY::SLAB | Candy'O, I need you ... | Wed Mar 12 1997 16:12 | 3 |
|
Yeah, they think it was taken down by a missal.
|
760.1028 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Wed Mar 12 1997 16:19 | 1 |
| man, what are the odds!!???
|
760.1029 | | BUSY::SLAB | Candy'O, I need you ... | Wed Mar 12 1997 16:22 | 5 |
|
Oh, no, not this odds thing again.
I don't friggin' know ... ask Battis.
|
760.1030 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Wed Mar 12 1997 16:23 | 2 |
| Since Flight 800's jersey is no doubt hanging from the rafters, about a
gazillion to 1.
|
760.1031 | Russian pix? This is new... | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Thu Mar 13 1997 10:38 | 62 |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday March 13 6:48 AM EST
Missile Theory Renewed in TWA Crash
PARIS (Reuter) - A French magazine on Thursday published radar images it
said supported a theory that the U.S. Navy accidentally shot down a Trans
World Airlines jumbo jet off New York last year, killing 230 people,
despite renewed U.S. denials.
Paris Match said the images from a radar videotape from John F. Kennedy
airport showed an unidentified plane, which it said was a U.S. Navy Orion
P3 surveillance aircraft, and another blip that it said might have been an
intended target for a missile.
In a nine-page report, it said the images tended to back the missile
theory.
Investigators in Washington on Wednesday dismissed the claims ahead of
publication of what Paris Match said were exclusive pictures. "It's just
not true," lead investigator James Kallstrom said on NBC television's
"Today Show."
Former U.S. presidential spokesman and television correspondent Pierre
Salinger was due to give a news conference later in Paris to detail his
allegations of a cover-up of U.S. Navy involvement in the crash.
Salinger's theories, including a previous set dismissed by investigators
last year, touch a nerve because the cause of the Paris-bound crash on July
17 is still a mystery.
National Transportation Safety Board and FBI investigators have indicated
that mechanical failure rather than a bomb or missile may have been
responsible for the explosion on the Paris-bound flight shortly after
takeoff on July 17.
Paris Match said that Salinger believed that the U.S. Navy had fired a
missile from the sea, perhaps from a submarine, and that electronic
equipment aboard the TWA plane lured the missile off course to hit it.
It said that the TWA flight was flying abnormally low, in an area sometimes
used for military exercises, to avoid another commercial airliner nearby.
Kallstrom, the assistant director of the FBI's New York office, said
investigators had reviewed every available radar picture of the accident
and concluded there was no evidence of a missile being fired.
"There is no missile flying up at this plane on any of the radar tapes," he
said.
Separately, Salinger told the Washington Times in an interview published on
Thursday that the U.S. government should "reveal the truth" or face Russian
disclosure based on satellite photography.
"We don't want to get the Russians involved, but unless the U.S. government
cooperates, we may have to," Salinger told the newspaper.
Two Russian satellites active above the scene of the disaster had produced
videotapes showing a missile hitting the TWA aircraft, according to the
Salinger report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
760.1032 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Thu Mar 13 1997 11:17 | 74 |
760.1033 | Featured right along with "Voulez-vous passer la nuit avec moi?" | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Mar 13 1997 11:30 | 7 |
760.1034 | The truth is dead. Long live the truth. | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Thu Mar 13 1997 11:55 | 8 |
760.1036 | call it "WITHOUT WARNING"... | GAAS::BRAUCHER | And nothing else matters | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:07 | 6 |
|
well, let's see. I see an Oliver Stone flick here, but there are
casting problems...Gene Hackman plays the evil Coverup Admiral...
we need a heroic Salinger guy...
bb
|
760.1037 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:10 | 1 |
| What about that french dude from Close Encounters? Too thin?
|
760.1035 | | COVERT::COVERT | John R. Covert | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:12 | 6 |
760.1038 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:13 | 6 |
|
Salinger--Harrison Ford
NTSB investigator---Kevin Costner
FBI guy----- Paul Sorvino
The Beav.. Jerry Mathers
|
760.1039 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:15 | 1 |
| Salinger: Continuous Rod Steiger.
|
760.1040 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:20 | 1 |
| Was the kinetic energy missile fired from Kineticut?
|
760.1041 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:21 | 4 |
|
State your case, Gerald.
|
760.1042 | Nutters! | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:27 | 13 |
|
"Continuous Rod Missile" - gosh, why am I *NOT* surprised that
_The_New_American_ (John Birch Society) reported that's what brought
down the plane back in October, 1996.
Source? General Partin [RET] (another "retired" nut). You'll find he
was active in "investigating" the OKC bombing as well. (He fingered
the cable guy.)
Another name to watch for? Ian Goddard.
-mr. bill
|
760.1043 | "Eat your beans, Pierre" - LBJ | TLE::RALTO | Leave Clinton Alone | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:38 | 8 |
| > What about that french dude from Close Encounters? Too thin?
Dead.
How about Matt LeBlanc as Pierre Salinger? That'll bring in
the crowds and sell the popcorn.
Chris
|
760.1044 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:45 | 4 |
|
Who is Matt Leblanc?
|
760.1045 | This generation's Frankie Avalon, or something similar | TLE::RALTO | Leave Clinton Alone | Thu Mar 13 1997 12:54 | 4 |
| He's some kind of twentysomething heartthrob from the "Friends"
sitcom.
Chris
|
760.1046 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Thu Mar 13 1997 13:00 | 2 |
| Dead eh? Keanu Reeves doesn't use such feeble excuses. OK then,
Gerard Depardieu. He's big, French and not dead.
|
760.1047 | | WAHOO::LEVESQUE | Spott Itj | Thu Mar 13 1997 14:10 | 2 |
| No, we need the guy who played Hercule Poirot to be Salinger. Drawing a
blank on his name.
|
760.1048 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | gonna have to eventually anyway | Thu Mar 13 1997 14:13 | 2 |
| whoever it is, he has to have bushy eyebrows.
can andy rooney fake a french accent?
|
760.1049 | | SMURF::WALTERS | | Thu Mar 13 1997 14:15 | 3 |
| .1047
Eet ees on zer teep of mah terng!
|
760.1050 | | NOTIME::SACKS | Gerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085 | Thu Mar 13 1997 14:16 | 3 |
| > whoever it is, he has to have bushy eyebrows.
Let's see. Sam Ervin's dead. Walter Cronkite? Sam Donaldson? Brooke Shields?
|
760.1051 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.ziplink.net/~glen/decplus/ | Thu Mar 13 1997 14:17 | 5 |
| | <<< Note 760.1048 by LANDO::OLIVER_B "gonna have to eventually anyway" >>>
| can andy rooney fake a french accent?
salenger does....
|
760.1052 | | LANDO::OLIVER_B | gonna have to eventually anyway | Thu Mar 13 1997 14:17 | 1 |
| brooke's too young for the role. imo.
|
760.1053 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Thu Mar 13 1997 15:13 | 4 |
|
The radar images (French text)
http://www.parismatch.tm.fr/actualite/twa800/framedepart.html
|
760.1054 | This news from Sommers and Salinger was news to ABC.... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Thu Mar 13 1997 19:30 | 5 |
|
Did you know that Mike Sommers was an investigative reporter and news
executive for ABC?
-mr. bill
|
760.1055 | | ABACUS::CURRAN | | Thu Mar 13 1997 19:38 | 4 |
| so what will happen if they discover that the navy or some USA military
really DID shoot down that plane? Can the families sue the government?
|
760.1056 | | CSLALL::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Thu Mar 13 1997 19:39 | 5 |
|
Revolution
|
760.1057 | Rocket scientist... | PERFOM::LICEA_KANE | when it's comin' from the left | Thu Mar 13 1997 19:46 | 7 |
|
James Sanders may be charged with obstruction of justice, according to
unnamed sources.
What are *gasp* *THEY* trying to hide?
-mr. bill
|
760.1058 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Fri Mar 14 1997 10:57 | 2 |
| i believe you cannot sue the government, however the government
has been known to payout damages.
|
760.1059 | | APACHE::KEITH | Dr. Deuce | Fri Mar 14 1997 11:43 | 1 |
| Randy Weaver and family: $3.1 million
|
760.1060 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Fri Mar 14 1997 14:39 | 2 |
| aren't these things generally described as "the government agredd to
pay"?
|
760.1061 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Here's your sign | Wed Jun 04 1997 16:04 | 7 |
|
Latest news from the lead investigator is that fumes in the
near-empty center fuel tank were heated by the air-conditioning units
below tha tank and a spark somehow ignited the fumes causing the
explosion. Supposedly , the FAA had been warned about this.
ed
|
760.1062 | | JAMIN::prnsy5.lkg.dec.com::osman | Eric, dtn 226-7122 | Wed Jun 04 1997 16:40 | 11 |
|
Didn't I see a picture on the tv news recently showing that
so many pieces of wreckage have been pieced together in a
hanger that almost the entire plane's exterior is there ?
I would think that from that much wreckage, it would be possible
from analyzing the directions of rips and dents, to tell whether
something like a missle pierced the plane from the outside, or
an explosion in a fuel tank occurred.
/Eric
|
760.1063 | | DECXPS::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Wed Jun 04 1997 16:44 | 13 |
|
>Didn't I see a picture on the tv news recently showing that
>so many pieces of wreckage have been pieced together in a
>hanger that almost the entire plane's exterior is there ?
They do this with many, if not all commercial plane crashes, if I'm not
mistaken.
Jim
|
760.1064 | | EVMS::MORONEY | Tis but a flesh wound... | Wed Jun 04 1997 17:05 | 5 |
| re .1062:
They've known for a long time there was an explosion in the fuel tank.
What they didn't know (or at least say) was whether the fumes exploded,
there was a bomb there or a missile blew up there.
|
760.1065 | | BIGQ::SILVA | http://www.ziplink.net/~glen/decplus/ | Wed Jun 04 1997 17:18 | 3 |
|
I think Pierre Salenger was miss-led
|
760.1066 | | JAMIN::prnsy5.lkg.dec.com::osman | Eric, dtn 226-7122 | Wed Jun 04 1997 17:39 | 4 |
|
Well, did they find pieces of the fueltank ? The pieces ought
to show whether something pierced the tank, like a missle, or
whether there was only explosion from within.
|
760.1067 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Here's your sign | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:05 | 13 |
|
Yes, the news did show the reconstruction of the plane and it was
almost complete.
A couple of things that I didn't understand about the story,
1. Where would the spark come from inside the fuel tank?
2. Why was the center fuel tank almost empty when the plane was
taking off for a trans-atlantic flight?
ed
|
760.1068 | | DECXPS::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:10 | 19 |
|
> 1. Where would the spark come from inside the fuel tank?
some kinda electronical probe(s) inside the tank
> 2. Why was the center fuel tank almost empty when the plane was
> taking off for a trans-atlantic flight?
As I recall the wing tanks, et al were fully loaded and the center tank
was used when moving fuel around for balance purposes while in flight.
Jim
|
760.1069 | | WMOIS::GIROUARD_C | | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:13 | 1 |
| missile (here we go again)
|
760.1070 | | CSC32::M_EVANS | dancing lightly on the edge | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:13 | 3 |
| I still think it was a space rock.
meg
|
760.1071 | | SMURF::BINDER | Errabit quicquid errare potest. | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:17 | 7 |
| .1067
> Where would the spark come from inside the fuel tank?
Static electricity. Possibly generated by the flexing of the plane's
airframe, possibly by rubbing of the fuel-tank probes against their
insulating mountings.
|
760.1072 | | DECXPS::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:19 | 7 |
|
The Hale Bopp Transportation Company's beta testing of their Amazing
Ronco Transporter system backfired.
Jim
|
760.1073 | | BUSY::SLAB | Audiophiles do it 'til it hertz! | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:19 | 5 |
|
RE: .1071
Does this mean that TWA isn't ISO9002-certified?
|
760.1074 | | POWDML::DOUGAN | | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:24 | 2 |
| Cross-Atlantic is a relatively short flight for a 747, therefore one or
more tanks empty.
|
760.1075 | | BRITE::FYFE | What's his name ... | Wed Jun 04 1997 18:56 | 20 |
| > 1. Where would the spark come from inside the fuel tank?
There are aparently some pipes and such that cross through the tank.
These pipes and their mounting hardware are unsulated but the insulators
can/do crack providing a path for static electricity.
Now add lots of heat (energy) from the 3 AC units below the tank and a
few flexing components inside the tank and you have a mixture for static
discharge. Combined with just the right mixture of oxygen and fuel
vapors and ....
POOF!
Your fish food.
This issue has been visited several times by the FAA and Boeing over the years.
Doug.
|
760.1076 | | SUBSYS::NEUMYER | Here's your sign | Wed Jun 04 1997 19:09 | 5 |
|
Thanks for the answers.
ed
|
760.1077 | | CONSLT::MCBRIDE | Idleness, the holiday of fools | Wed Jun 04 1997 19:33 | 1 |
| Whose fish food? I don't even have any fish.
|
760.1078 | | DECXPS::HENDERSON | Give the world a smile each day | Wed Jun 04 1997 19:34 | 3 |
|
Well, get some, then!
|