The Observation Deck

Pilot's gun fires on US Airways flight

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080325/ap_ ... n_on_plane

'A gun belonging to the pilot of a US Airways plane went off as the aircraft was on approach to land in North Carolina over the weekend, the first time a weapon issued under a federal program to arm pilots was fired, authorities said Monday.

The "accidental discharge" Saturday aboard Flight 1536 from Denver to Charlotte did not endanger the aircraft or the 124 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants aboard, said Greg Alter of the Federal Air Marshal Service.

"We know that there was never any danger to the aircraft or to the occupants on board," Alter said. ...

[Aviation consultant Mike Boyd] said Saturday's incident could have been much worse. "If that bullet had compromised the shell of the airplane, i.e., gone through a window, the airplane could have gone down," he said.'

Since the possibility of a terrorist attack like 9/11 is now effectively zero, the only result of such a policy would be more accidental discharges and intentional shootings in situations that now can be resolved with less than lethal force.

Since the possibility of a terrorist attack like 9/11 is now effectively zero, the only result of such a policy would be more accidental discharges and intentional shootings in situations that now can be resolved with less than lethal force.

Is it zero because the pilots now carry firearms? just sayin

I think I can state authoritatively that no one will ever hijack a plane
with a box cutter again. See Flight whatever-it-was that crashed in PA.. See Richard Reid. My greatest fear in flying now is that I will have a sudden and intense leg cramp and have to jump to my feet, because I know if I do I will be swarmed by every other passenger on that flight. The reason the 911 hijackings succeeded. the reason they were possible was that the people on those planes underestimated what some religious extremists are capable of. Do you think that will ever happen again?

Just sayin'

Besides, Mythbusters already proved that a bullet hole in the window or fuselage isn't enough to bring a plane down. That is only in the movies. In fact, they pointed out that the entire top of an airplane came off in mid flight (I remember that and vowed to never fly again...but did anyway) and it landed with only a small number of deaths and those being I think flight crew that weren't strapped in at the time.

That said, a bullet going off in an enclosed space is certainly a danger to a pilot, passenger or electronics, I would think. I am curious how this went off. Guns don't fire on their own, as a rule.

I also disagree that there is zero chance for terrorists taking over planes. First of all, as a terrorist you KNOW that there is a gun on a plane and at that point it is simply a matter of trying to get it (as difficult as that is). Are pilots given extensive training on how to use firearms in a hostage situation? Maybe. Maybe not. Any time human judgment is involved there is always something that could go wrong. But as Superman said, it is still the safest way to travel.

Besides, Mythbusters already proved that a bullet hole in the window or fuselage isn't enough to bring a plane down.

that was a great episode!

Tracy Jones wrote:My greatest fear in flying now is that I will have a sudden and intense leg cramp and have to jump to my feet, because I know if I do I will be swarmed by every other passenger on that flight.

Ok, that is just being a TAD bit dramatic, don't you think?

Sorry Valerie, it was meant as humor.

Phil Florian wrote:Besides, Mythbusters already proved that a bullet hole in the window or fuselage isn't enough to bring a plane down. That is only in the movies. In fact, they pointed out that the entire top of an airplane came off in mid flight (I remember that and vowed to never fly again...but did anyway) and it landed with only a small number of deaths and those being I think flight crew that weren't strapped in at the time.

That said, a bullet going off in an enclosed space is certainly a danger to a pilot, passenger or electronics, I would think. I am curious how this went off. Guns don't fire on their own, as a rule.

I also disagree that there is zero chance for terrorists taking over planes. First of all, as a terrorist you KNOW that there is a gun on a plane and at that point it is simply a matter of trying to get it (as difficult as that is). Are pilots given extensive training on how to use firearms in a hostage situation? Maybe. Maybe not. Any time human judgment is involved there is always something that could go wrong. But as Superman said, it is still the safest way to travel.

I agree. It is much more likely that the evil dooers will hijack the plane using the pilots own gun.

it is possible they could start lifting weights and eating a lot of cheese. If a hijacker were three times stronger than the average man they wouldn't need fancy weapons or grappling moves.

sometimes I get this bus driver who will hurry the breaks and continually give short bursts to the horn down 25th street. It gives the constant impression he is about to hit another car.