• F-16s Scrambled to Escort Airliners into Atlanta Due to Bomb Threat(Developing)
    21 replies, posted
[QUOTE] Two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled today to escort two airliners enroute to Hartsfeld-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta for a possible bomb threat, NORAD said. The fighters from McEntire Joint National Guard Base in South Carolina were dispatched at 1 p.m. ET and escorted the planes to Hartsfeld, where they both landed safely, NORAD spokesman Preston Schlachter said. The two passenger flights were Delta 1156 from Portland and Southwest 2492 from Milwaukee. The fighters escorted both aircraft from a distance behind until they landed. [/QUOTE] source: [url]http://abcnews.go.com/US/16s-scrambled-escort-jets-bomb-threat/story?id=28454445[/url] [highlight](User was permabanned for this post ("alt of perma'd user falubii" - Orkel))[/highlight]
Would not want to be on an airliner having a fighter jet tailing it from behind in a post 9/11 world. There's only one reason he's there. Better hope information doesn't get fucked up or the pilot doesn't do anything that isn't expected
is escorting the best word for it? i'm sure tailing would be more appropriate
[QUOTE=SonicHitman;47003029]is escorting the best word for it? i'm sure tailing would be more appropriate[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Merriam Webster]to go with (someone or something) to give protection or guidance[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Apache249;47003075]dicktionary[/QUOTE] Is "if things get hairy I am blowing you to bits" protection or guidance?
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;47003126]Is "if things get hairy I am blowing you to bits" protection or guidance?[/QUOTE] it's protection for the people on the ground
[QUOTE=Awesomecaek;47003126]Is "if things get hairy I am blowing you to bits" protection or guidance?[/QUOTE] Give the fighter pilots more credit. They're not just there in case they need to blow it out of the sky. They can provide information to ground forces, and they can offer the pilots assistance as necessary.
[QUOTE=EvacX;47003168]it's protection for the people on the ground[/QUOTE] Because turning it into a flaming beehive shell is so much better.
[QUOTE=Crimor;47003208]Because turning it into a flaming beehive shell is so much better.[/QUOTE] A flaming beehive shell landing in an ocean is better than a guided missile flown into a building. [editline]24th January 2015[/editline] But I'm going to reemphasize that their primary purpose is just to observe and report, not to shoot anything down
[QUOTE=Crimor;47003208]Because turning it into a flaming beehive shell is so much better.[/QUOTE] If there is a terrorist threat on board, the passengers are basically dead and you need to protect anyone else you can. Hell, If I was on board I would rather die from a fighter jet, than die crashing and kill other innocents.
Imagine escorting a plane full of terrified civilians, and getting the order to blow it out of the sky. I couldn't live with that.
[QUOTE=Crimor;47003208]Because turning it into a flaming beehive shell is so much better.[/QUOTE] Simply put, it is. They would rather have it go down in a field (killing no-one) or go down in a neighborhood (killing dozens of people) than have it crashed into a downtown area or a stadium, killing thousands. It all has to do with the loss ratio, and comparing your best options in a scenario where you'll be counting fatalities no matter what you do.
[QUOTE=ewitwins;47003497]They would rather have it go down in a field (killing no-one)[/QUOTE] Except the entirety of the crew and passengers.
plot twist: OP is suspect, posting from plane
[QUOTE=meek;47004108]Except the entirety of the crew and passengers.[/QUOTE] Yeah, but they're dead no matter what in that scenario. The name of the game is preventing further deaths.
That's only a few miles from here. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta is the most visited airport in the world, so that could have been really bad.
[QUOTE=TheTalon;47002837]Would not want to be on an airliner having a fighter jet tailing it from behind in a post 9/11 world. There's only one reason he's there. Better hope information doesn't get fucked up or the pilot doesn't do anything that isn't expected[/QUOTE] This happens so often (like maybe once every other month). Its not [I]that[/I] much of a big deal.
[QUOTE=Solomon;47004147]plot twist: OP is suspect, posting from plane[/QUOTE] C'mon, anyone?
[QUOTE=TheTalon;47002837]Would not want to be on an airliner having a fighter jet tailing it from behind in a post 9/11 world. There's only one reason he's there. Better hope information doesn't get fucked up or the pilot doesn't do anything that isn't expected[/QUOTE] Maybe it's my apathy speaking, maybe it's my lack of fear, but I'd be too caught up in 'OH COOL AN F16 -picpicpicpicpicvideo-' to be concerned about why it's there. Hell I might even ask a flight attendant to ask the pilot to ask the fighter pilot to fly closer to my window for a better view.
[QUOTE=Solomon;47005065]C'mon, anyone?[/QUOTE] Haha what?
So no bomb?
Article states that the plane landed..it was a threat made via twitter and they're tracking the person who made it down.
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