NBC

I read today that an NBC crew tried to skyjack a general aviation aircraft with the intent of demonstrating how easy it was. They were arrested and released by the FBI before they even got close. I’m not sure why they were released. Their vowed intent was to try it again. I could not tell from the blog what kind of GA aircraft they were after, presumably a charter.

They may have been luckier than they know. Had they been successful in chartering an aircraft they would be dealing with a part 135 pilot, possibly an owner. I say this advisedly; they may not have lived through the experience.

We were grounded for a while after 9/11. We had lots of time to think about it. Many unsavory ME characters have haunted fixed base operators and training facilities for many years, so the index of suspicion runs high. That’s probably why the FBI was called on the first attempt. The small charter aircraft and pilot have many more options than a scheduled airliner. I would not want to detail the surprises that might wait in store for a hijacker but they are many and violent.

These guys would be wise not to try their experiment in Alaska, especially late in the season. I wonder what the academics will say about this.