FBI does not rule out that Penn. plane was shot down

[Ripsnort]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20010913_273.html

[Greese]

It's certainly interesting, but I've heard so much crap and confusion spread by the media these past couple of days that I am witholding judgement at this time.  Just be careful what you believe at this time.

[NATEDOG]

If it was shot down, it was something they had to do.... the people on that plane were gonna die anyway, no need for more people to die, or another national monument to be destroyed. They knew they were gonna die, they accepted their fate, and tried to stop the hijackers from accomplishing their goal. now if the pilot downed the plane, or the people on board downed the plane, or if the U.S. shot it out of the sky, it was done for the love of this country. May God take care of the innocent people on board.

[Dinger]

That statement means nothing, just that they haven't gathered enough evidence to rule out any hypothesis.
The US military claims they haven't shot anything down.  They could be lying, but nobody would blame them if they did.

[capt. apathy]

I sure hope we didn't shoot it down, for the sake of the guy who would have had to pull the trigger.
 I’ve read in the paper this morning that passengers onboard that plane called their family and said they where not going to die without a fight.  Whether these men took back the plane, the pilot intentionally crashed it, or it was shot down (the three possible scenarios that I’m aware of). These men are definitely heroes.
 If the plane was shot down, it’s not only understandable, it’s the only logical solution for the situation. The fate of the passengers on that plane was sealed the moment the hijackers took control of the plane. It’s just a decision as to whether you are going to take difficult action or just let the death toll climb.
 And if the plane was shot down not admitting it to the public right away is also a sound decision. Can you imagine the amount of panic and division it would have caused on Tuesday if it had been reported that US military had fired on US civilians? What the hype mongers in this country would have done with a story like that.

[ 09-13-2001: Message edited by: capt. apathy ]

[Steven]

I would ask to be shot down.  I can't imagine the nightmare of watching someone control your plane into the WTC or the White House.  

-Puke
332nd Flying Mongrels

[Boroda]

If they did shot it down - they will never admit it. And in this case I think they are 150% right. I think such things should not be turned into thrills for housewives.

[bowser]

About an hour after saying they "had not ruled out the possiblity..", they then did rule it out.

Made for a dramatic news announcement though.  You'd make a good reporter Rip!  

bowser

[Nifty]

I think I would want to be shot down if that was the only remaining solution.  I think I would want my family members to be shot down in the same situation.  I think I would pull the trigger if I had to.  I think they shouldn't tell us if they did have to shoot it down, at least not yet.  If they ever do, they should never tell us the fighter pilot's name.

My first thought was that they did shoot it down when I heard.

[pugg666]

regardless of weather or not it was shot down...
not matter if it was the pilot, passengers, or a fighter pilot....
someone showed a great deal moral courage in bringing that plane down BEFORE it hit a target that would have resulted in many more lives lost