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-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002

Answers

@#$%^!!!

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002

From above link

Possible Attempted Hijacking Man Tried to Enter Cockpit on Flight from Miami to Buenos Aires

Feb. 7 — A United Airlines flight out of Miami is now safely on the ground in Buenos Aires after a man reportedly attempted to gain access to the cockpit.

Local television said a man on board Flight UA 855 attempted to enter the cockpit about fours hours after the plane took off from Miami at 11:55pm last night. The co-pilot reportedly overpowered the man, who was reportedly from Uruguay and the plane landed at Buenos Aires airport in Argentina this morning.

The co-pilot grabbed a fire axe that was in the cockpit and hit the intruder on the head. The crew and some passengers were then able to subdue the man, according to the FBI.

ABCNEWS affiliate WPLG-Miami contributed to this report.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002

Seems like the co-pilot used the wrong side of the fire axe if the rest of the crew and some passangers needed to subdue the man. IMHO only.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002

my my.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002

Are United and American the only planes nowadays, or are they just especially jinxed?

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002

apoc, I had the same thought about the fire axe, but then I realized it was probably just one of those cheap made-in-China models.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002

BrookS, there are no "cheap" made-in-China parts or equipment on any of those aircraft. Everything, including a fire ax, would have to carry an FAA certificate of approval, and that means it will also be very, very, expensive. That fire ax likely cost as much $500. No kidding. You remember the stories about $600 toilet seats, right? That ax is quite a weapon, stainless steel including handle, as it was designed to tear through/apart the metal skin in order to create an opening. They usually have a hatchet type blade on one face and the opposite side looks like a pick. Either way unless you hit someone with the flat side of the blade it could open up your skull like a watermelon.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002

Gordon, thanks for setting me straight.

Still, it did read strangely that the guy needed to be subdued. Of course, the details could be wrong.

-- Anonymous, February 07, 2002