UPI: Feds probe SAM fired at airliner report

[question everything]

Feds probe SAM fired at airliner report

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- FBI agents and Homeland Security officials have been investigating the report of a possible missile fired at an American Airlines plane taking off from Los Angeles International Airport.

Sources told ABC News in Los Angeles that the pilot of American Airlines Flight 621, en route to Chicago, radioed air traffic controllers after takeoff from LAX. He told them a missile had been fired at the aircraft and missed.

The plane was over water when the pilot said he saw a smoke trail pass by the cockpit.

FBI agents believe it was a flare or a bottle rocket, but say they may never know if that's what it actually was, KYW Newsradio 1060 reported.

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/view.php?StoryID=20051202-014717-2951r

[Union Thug]

1. um... these people can't tell the difference between a missle and a bottle

rocket? WTF?

Okay.

[Boo Boo]

2. That would be one hell of a bottle rocket! /nt

[truthisfreedom]

3. it could have been a larger class of fireworks as well.

who knows. when something is coming at you that fast, you may not have a chance to see anything but the trail!

[flamin lib]

4. It could have been a variety of hobby rocket. Lots of people

launch rockets that reach ten thousand feet or more. They have to get Air Traffic Control permission as to time and place for the organized events.

[hobbit709]

5. SAM's are designed

to detonate in the air if they miss their target so that they don't blow up something of yours on the ground. If it didn't go boom it was problably some large hobby rocket.

[Poll_Blind]

7. Some AA rockets are designed not to do this...

I don't have time to research it this morning but I recall hearing that some AA rockets can be set NOT to detonate in proximity. I believe people researched and mentioned this in connection to the TWA Flight 800. In such a case the rocket would essentially be a big bullet. Assuming it scores a hit, the impact on an engine could cause the compressor blades to separate from the shaft and fail the engine. Those compressor blades, once free, fly off and shred anything in their path.

Of course, if you were a terrorist, what's the point in making it look like an accident?

PB

[buddysmellgood]

6. It's the war on Christmas! Battle stations, everyone!

[drm604]

8. Feds probe SAM fired at sleigh and reindeer

dateline dec 25...