Good things: Globalstar, CDMA cellphones, 1xRTT, cdma2000, Wacky Wireless.
By getting information that other hijacked planes had been crashed into the New York World Trade Center, the passengers knew to attack the hijackers even if they lost the conflict in the plane. It would have been another tragedy if the cellphone networks were busy, the passengers couldn't get their calls through, and they waited to see what the hijackers wanted [perhaps something benign, such as "Fly me to Havana"].
If WackyWireless was showing $10 a minute, they would still make the call, but the people idling away time on the ground would not make calls, leaving the airwaves free for urgent calls where $10 per minute doesn't matter.
I wonder if the Kiwi's efforts on the last plane to crash contributed enough to save the White House or The Capitol in Washington.
libertyordeath.tripod.com
<FOILED ATTACK ON CAPITOL, WASHINGTON, DC
The terrorists used knives and box cutters on these three aircraft to commandeer the planes. They also indicated that they had bombs. Cell phone calls from the hijacked aircraft indicated a standard method of operation where the terrorists, who numbered between three and six on each aircraft, would take a stewardess, cut their throat and then take control of the aircraft when the pilot or co-pilot came out to investigate. The terrorists then installed their own pilot in the aircraft, either killing the pilot, or herding them with the passengers and other stewardesses to the back of the plane.
A fourth jet had been hijacked, United Airlines Flight 93. As the terrorists took control of this aircraft, the pilot turned the intercom on and the passengers heard all that was happening. Somewhere near Cleveland, OH, this aircraft turned around and headed for Washington, DC. It was indicated that the terrorists planned to crash it into the capital building.
On board this aircraft, several passengers heard what was occurring. A man named Tom Burnett called his wife in California on his cell phone from the plane. He was the Chief Operating Officer in a small company in Pleasanton, CA. He was the father of three children. Here is what he told his wife.
Our flight has been hijacked. The terrorists have knives and have stabbed someone. They indicate they are going to crash our plane into the capital building in Washington, DC.
I know we're all going to die, but three of us are going to do something, I love you honey."
Another man, Jeremy Glick, traveling on the same flight with his two month old son, Emerson, also called his wife. Jeremy was 6'-2" tall and weighed 220 pounds. Here is what he told his wife.
I have seen three Arabic men who have taken control of the plane. We are now flying over open countryside. One of the hijackers has a red box he says is a bomb, and one has a knife of some type.
Some of the other men are saying that the World Trade Center has had airliners like ours crash into it. Is that true? [He is told it is and there is a pause of a couple of minutes]
The other men and myself have voted to attack the terrorists. We are going to do so. I will get back to you in a little while.
A few moments later, this aircraft plunged into the forest about eighty miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Nothing was left except a crater and the small charred pieces of an exploded aircraft for officials to sift through.
Due to the heroic efforts of a few brave Americans, that fourth plane never made it to the terrorists intended destination and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of additional lives were spared. Those passengers are heroes, and represent the true spirit of America when faced with such trials. This site should be made a national monument in tribute to the courage, determination and bravery of these individuals. >
A Kiwi was on board and presumably was part of preventing a fourth plane succeeding in attack. I like that he would have had the wit to stop the will of the hijackers.
nzherald.co.nz
<On Monday, New Zealander Alan Beaven celebrated his eighth wedding anniversary with his wife, Kimi.
They had a meal, spent time together and professed their love for each other at their New York home.
But just over 10 hours after that special day, Mr Beaven was snatched from his family when the hijacked plane he was on crashed, killing all on board.
Mr Beaven, a 48-year-old lawyer educated at Auckland University, is the first New Zealander to be confirmed as dying in the worst terrorist attack in the United States. Officials are trying to contact at least one other New Zealander.
The father-of-three was one of 45 people on board United Airlines Flight 93, which took off from Newark on Tuesday morning (New York time), bound for San Francisco.
Terrorists took over the Boeing 757, probably with the aim of crashing it into the White House or another significant target, such as Camp David. Instead, it appears passengers fought back and the jet crashed in a wooded area near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
As the US shuddered in the aftermath, the family and friends of Mr Beaven paid tribute to him.
His wife, 34-year-old Kimi, told the Herald: "You've lost a gem of New Zealand. He loved you all so much."
Mrs Beaven said her husband, who still had his New Zealand passport, had always wanted to bring his family to see his homeland.
"He's always wanted to bring us there. He was just the most incredible man in the world," she said.
"He loved his children and it was a blessing to have known him. I'm going to cry now."
The day before her husband took the fateful flight, the couple had celebrated being married eight years.
She is happy they managed to have that day and has memories she will treasure forever.
Mr Beaven worked for Berman DeValerio Pease Tabacco Burt and Pucillo, where he was a leading environment lawyer, representing various groups in high-profile cases in California.
Mr Beaven met his first wife, Elizabeth, at Auckland University and the pair travelled overseas in 1976, two years after he graduated with honours. They had two sons, John and Chris.
The couple parted on friendly terms in 1986 and Mr Beaven then met Kimi. He has elderly parents in Australia and a brother, Ralph, in New Zealand.
Mr Beaven had a diverse legal career, which included stints as a law professor at King's College in London, as a criminal defence attorney and prosecutor in Britain, plus postings in other countries.
He had long practised meditation and Siddha yoga and was active in the SYDA Foundation, an international non-profit organisation dedicated to humanitarian and spiritual work.
He had been in San Francisco and had started a year's sabbatical, living with Kimi and five-year-old daughter Sonali in New York. They were considering going to India to do volunteer work for SYDA.
On the morning he died, Mr Beaven was heading to San Francisco to try one last case - a water pollution hearing.
It has emerged there was heroism on Flight 93, with a group of passengers hatching a plan to defy the terrorists.
Passenger Jeremy Glick called his wife, telling her they were going to stop the hijackers but knew that doing so would end all their lives.
The FBI is unable to confirm details of any action but those who know Mr Beaven say it was in his character to save lives.
A friend of 22 years, Dr Richard Gillett, said: "He must've been in there ... he was a guy of incredible courage.
"He took on environmental court cases in California that other people wouldn't have touched. He was willing to go against the odds."
And Mr Beaven's former wife, Elizabeth, said: "He had a lot of enthusiasm for life, not a lot of fear, a lot of courage.
"If there was anything happening, I'm quite certain he would have been at the front of it.
"That would have absolutely fitted who he is.">
It has always surprised me that pilots do not lock their doors to maintain a secure environment. They should communicate via intercom and have some suitable weapons in a secure box. Leaving the cockpit open to hundreds of people, some of whom will be on the edge of sanity, is on the edge of sanity. I have sat on planes, looking into the cockpit and pondered the accessibility of the controls.
A dozen religious cranks with pocket knives can destroy two of the biggest buildings on earth, stall the world and bring declarations of war.
The effects were huge, but it really was a dozen guys with pocket knives. Yes, they had some money to rent cars and hire simulators, buy tickets etc. They had backup and there were and are other groups.
They have sympathy from more religious cranks; women who ululate and crowds who celebrate.
Mqurice
PS: My preference is that aircraft be flown by computers, not pilots. |
