| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: WoT |
| Shouts, moans and murder on Flight 93 |
| 2006-04-13 |
| Sickening thuds, moans of pain, despairing pleas for mercy and then a final defiant "Allah is the greatest" resounded through a courtroom yesterday before a long silence as the heart-rending cockpit recording of United Airlines Flight 93 was played in public for the first time. In the four years since the September 11 attacks, Flight 93 has entered American mythology because of the heroic attempted fight-back against the hijackers by the passengers and crew. Yesterday, for 31 numbing minutes, the full horror of their ordeal was laid bare, from the last dying screams of one of the staff who pleaded "I don't want to die", to the final battle for control of the cockpit as the plane hurtled into the ground. Amid the rapid interchange and against the backdrop of heavy static it was not always clear what was happening. It was also not always clear who was speaking. But the initial sounds were unmistakeably of the stabbing and probably murder of two members of the flight crew. As the jury listened in stunned silence, prosecutors sought to complete the simulation of the doomed plane's cockpit by displaying video footage of a flight simulator which re-enacted UA 93's rapid descent from its cruising altitude and its final stomach-churning lurches. The tape was the most dramatic testimony yet in the sentencing trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, the self-confessed would-be suicide bomber. It opens at 9.31am, about three minutes after the four hijackers made their move, and the very moment the 33 passengers were officially informed of their plight. Rest at link. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #20 read VDH's book, FOTSGreg? "a War Like No Other" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-04-13 19:34 |
| #19 "If you're gonna' die, die standin' up!" The passengers & crew of Flight 93 will live on in the undying will and insurmountable spirit of true Americans until history remembers America no more (a day that will never arrive if Thermopylae is any judge). They died like Spartans, but they died as Americans. |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-04-13 18:48 |
| #18 Steve, I believe we're on the same page. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-04-13 18:13 |
| #17 We'll never know how many people in the NCR those passengers saved by buggering up the muzzie plan. Imagine that plane hitting a school full of children. True heroes to the man and woman, one and all. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-04-13 16:08 |
| #16 I knew what you meant, Steve about "understanding" and agree full well. One of my coffee club buddies this morning summed it up well: "They had to face the fact they were going to die. But, as Americans, they decided that they would rather die on THEIR terms!" Very well stated in my mind (following up Matt's quote). Rest in peace, you patriots, and may God bless your families. |
| Posted by: BA 2006-04-13 15:30 |
| #15 I wrote a letter to President Bush dated September 17, 2001 nominating the passengers and crew of UA Flight 93 for the highest medal of honor that can be bestowed on a civilian, to wit: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I received a polite reply from the Whitehouse some 6 months later thanking me for making the nomination. To date no action has been taken. There were many heros that day in New York and Washington. Still, there is something about Flight 93 that was different: Flight 93 was the first line of defense. We fought back. God bless them all. |
| Posted by: Mark Z 2006-04-13 15:26 |
| #14 I think (thanks in no small part to Rantburg) that I understand our islamofascist enemies quite well. My NEVER "UNDERSTAND" comment was directed at all those who say we have to "understand the anger" of those who attack us. I agree with you, Mike, I understand our enemies quite well. |
| Posted by: Steve 2006-04-13 15:22 |
| #13 Certain death came for them by surprise but they did not panic and instead immediately organized, fought and robbed terror of its victory. They died but were not defeated. Yes, Matt, indeed. Thank you. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2006-04-13 14:55 |
| #12 Good stuff Matt. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-04-13 13:49 |
| #11 alright! |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-04-13 12:53 |
| #10 Such endeavor requires recognizing both these long-term traits in American nationalism and the unique manner in which the war on terror was commenced - that the American people themselves engaged the enemy before their government did, aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. The effects of this remain unclear but certainly something immense began. Students of American character should pay close attention to Flight 93. A random sample of American adults was subjected to the highest possible stress and organized themselves in a terribly brief period, without benefit of training or group tradition other than their inherent national consciousness, to foil a well planned and executed terrorist attack. Recordings show the passengers and cabin crew of Flight 93 - ordinary Americans all - exemplified the virtues Americans hold most dear. Certain death came for them by surprise but they did not panic and instead immediately organized, fought and robbed terror of its victory. They died but were not defeated. By Tom Holsinger at Strategy Page. |
| Posted by: Matt 2006-04-13 12:49 |
| #9 Hijackers surprised to find themselves in Hell. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-04-13 12:29 |
| #8 And if that Judge hearing the trial overturns any death penalty because of "prejudicial evidence" may he be impeached ands removed by Congress, and may his soul join the 19, and Massaoui's, and all the other murderous bastards who kill in the name of Islam, for he will prove he is but a facilitator. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2006-04-13 12:29 |
| #7 As the souls of the five thugs sizzle and roast to extra-krispy in the firey regions... May all the others and their families find piece, and may God comfort them. |
| Posted by: BigEd 2006-04-13 12:25 |
| #6 Steve, with all due respect, I think (thanks in no small part to Rantburg) that I understand our islamofascist enemies quite well. That's why I want them hunted down and exterminated. |
| Posted by: Mike 2006-04-13 12:23 |
| #5 NEVER. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2006-04-13 12:05 |
| #4 NEVER "UNDERSTAND" |
| Posted by: Steve 2006-04-13 12:04 |
| #3 NEVER FORGIVE |
| Posted by: BH 2006-04-13 11:09 |
| #2 NEVER FORGET |
| Posted by: RD 2006-04-13 05:33 |
| #1 The air traffic control audio recording that has been circulating for a while now, has the voice of one of these fuckers on it. At least to me the voice sounds arabic. Contacted ATC twice before crashing. |
| Posted by: Ebbaviter Gravish5158 2006-04-13 00:33 |